Bits and Bridles

When two year old filly Without You (Captain Crunch) won for Mark and Nathan Purdon and Australian owner Jean Feiss at Addington last night, it was a continuation of a thirteen year association Mark and Jean have had in harness racing.

WITHOUT YOU REPLAY

The partnership has now won 193 races in New Zealand.

Amazing Dream has been Jean’s biggest winner with seven Group One wins, followed by Spanish Armada six, Self Assured five and Elle Mac four.

Mark and Jean’s first winner was Sammy Maguire at Ashburton in October 2011.

Feiss bought Without You at the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland for $40,000 when the filly was named Polka Capitana.

The win by Without You was driver Blair Orange’s 401^st for Purdon. Their first was Ohoka Atom at Addington in October 2002.

The second foal out of eight race winning harness racing mare Nek Time (Gotta Go Cullect) qualified at Gore on Thursday. The baldy faced Blaze Lightening (Sweet Lou) won his heat by a head from Flash Point (Captain Crunch) to gain his race day pass. Nek Time’s wins included the Southland Oaks, the ‘Harness 5000’, the Gold Coast Oaks and Queensland Oaks.

Her first foal Nek Delight (Bettor’s Delight) won three races for Winton trainer Lauren Pearson and has recently been shifted to Craig Ferguson’s Wyndham barn.

Blaze Lightening who’s two, is trained by Ryal Bush horseman Brett Gray.

Another daughter of Captain Crunch – Captainshavtime, extended her unbeaten record in Australia at Gloucester Park in Perth on Tuesday night.

Bred by Southlander Murray Little and developed by Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray the two year old filly is now trained in Perth by Greg and Skye Bond and is owned by Team Bond Pty Ltd, and Little.

Before heading to Western Australia Captainshavtime ran third on debut in the G3 Entain Two Year Old Fillies Mobile at Winton before winning a maiden race by four and a quarter lengths at the Wairio meeting. She was then taken north to Addington, running fifth in the G2 Bionic Chance Bracelet.

Diminutive Iron horse Magic Sign (Terror To Love) extended his record to nine wins when he won at Gore on Thursday thanks to a great front running drive by Craig Ferguson.

The gelding commenced his career in Canterbury for Graham Court, winning twice in twenty five starts before reinsman Blair Orange recommended the Southland based Setarip (Pirates spelt backwards) buy the horse.

He’s had fifty seven starts for Ascot Park trainer Jeremy Douglas, winning seven races.

His winning stakes now stand at $84,542.

Two quality American mares are expected to arrive at Arden Lodge in Tapanui next week.

The mares are from Diamond Creek Farm and will be sent to Macca Lodge in Southland to be served by Diamond Creek Farm stallion before residing at Arden Lodge for their pregnancy.

The pair are the first of what could be a few that the American powerhouse is sending to the Southern Hemisphere.

I’m In Heaven, a three year old unraced filly is by Huntsville (Somebeachsomewhere) out of Divine Caroline (Rock N Roll Heaven) which won eleven races from two until four and in 2015 was named Dan Patch Three Year Old Pacing Filly of the Year.

Easter Island, also a three year old unraced filly is by Captain Crunch. Her dam Drop The Ball (Western Terror) won twenty four races and $1.4 million pacing a mile in 1-48.2. She was a World Champion. She’s already the dam of seven foals including four winners.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink