Bettor’s Delight three year old showing signs of a champion

Three year old Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) showed all the signs of a harness racing champion in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru today when he sat parked and held out the late charge of Alta Wiseguy.

AKUTA REPLAY

“He tried really hard all the way up the straight and the other horse had a lovely trip, but my guy stuck to his guns and he fought hard,” trainer driver Mark Purdon said after the run.

With the exception of Krug, all the runners began well in today’s Group Three feature with southerner Pembrook Playboy taking up the role of pacemaker. With a lap to run Purdon moved Akuta up to sit parked.

“When he moved up and put himself into the race, he took nothing out of himself. He didn’t over race and that was probably the winning of the race for him.”

Turning in, Alta Wiseguy trailing Pembrook Playboy took the passing lane and put his head in front. But Akuta showing all the signs of a champion, dug deep and got to the front just short of the line beating Alta Wiseguy by half a head.

And after the win Purdon put out an ominous warning to his open class rivals.

“I’ve got to say he’s going to be two or three lengths better for the run.”

He said the change of the racing season structure with three year olds racing beyond August has really suited Akuta.

“I think he had twelve weeks off and you could see when he came back from the break that he’d really furnished into a lovely horse.”

And how does today’s win affect the decision to run the Bettor’s Delight three year old in November’s New Zealand Cup?

“I’m not going to rush. He’s going to have to race these better horses again and we’ll just see how he comes through those races.”

The three training wins today by the Purdon -Cullen partnership sets up what promises to be a competitive end to the trainer’s premiership.

Currently Steve and Amanda Telfer lead with 70 winners, Robert and Jenna Dunn sit on 60 and Purdon and Cullen are on 55.

“Our team is ready to go now. We’re going to be lining up some very nice horses between now and the end of the year.”

For complete race results, click here.

By Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink