Bettor’s Delight 4YO gives Purdon another Group One cup

Champion harness racing trainer Mark Purdon won himself another Group One tonight, winning the $170,000 Trillian Trust 2023 Auckland Cup behind exciting four year old pacer Akuta (Bettor’s Delight)

After an interrupted preparation the last few weeks with a hoof abscess, Purdon finally got the classy Akuta fit and ready for a hard run 3200m race.

As well as a good training effort, Purdon also produced a great drive, giving Akuta a nice run on the outer, before popping out on the turn and running home best to win comfortably by a length and a half.

“It was a special win, it hadn’t been the ideal preparation,” a relieved Mark Purdon told trackside viewers after the race.

“Full credit to the horse. He got a pretty good trip but he needed it tonight in all due respect, he is just a wonderful horse,” he said.

The Mark and Nathan Purdon team grabbed a quinella in the race with Self Assured and driver Natalie Rasmussen running a bold second after doing a fair amount of work in the mid stages.

“He (Self Assured) did that middle stage work which took a little bit out of him but he went great, he was courageous right to the end,” Mark Purdon said.

AKUTA REPLAY

Akuta paced the 3200m distance in 4-00.5 with a last 800m in 57.1 seconds.

The win of Akuta gave part owner Ian Dobson a decent boost in moral after his superstar trotter Muscle Mountain was run down into fourth after breaking at the start of the Group One Rowe Cup earlier in the night.

For complete race results, click here.

by Harnesslink Media