Ex-Kiwi pacer speeds to stakes race success

Port Au Prince (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) just needed a late split to show his class in the $A50,000 Group Two Schweppes Carousel Final (2300m) at Menangle on Saturday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate was raring to go with little room in the home straight but once driver Robbie Morris worked him into the clear, he powered to an impressive victory.

Offered by Ripple Creek, Port Au Prince was a $20,000 purchase by Brendan and Jaque Mcintyre’s Bmac Sheetmetal Ltd at the 2019 Christchurch Yearling Sale.

A consistent performer for the Mcintyres in New Zealand, the pacer was recently sold to a group of Australian owners and joined trainer KerryAnn Morris in Sydney.

In something of a replica of his Carousel Final victory, Port Au Prince was held up on the markers before bursting out of the pack to win his heat of the series last week.

The four-year-old drew Barrier 1 again in Saturday night’s final and used the same recipe to notch his first black type victory.

The Morris stable arranged the purchase of Port Au Prince for a group of both new and experienced owners and they look set to have plenty more success with the pacer.

Port Au Prince was having just his third start in Australia and if his Carousel Final win is anything to go by, he has plenty ahead of him across the Tasman.

PORT AU PRINCE REPLAY

New Zealand-breds dominated racing at Menangle on Saturday night, winning five races on a nine-race card.

Port Au Prince wasn’t the only NZB Standardbred graduate among those winners that impressed.

Cantfindabettorman(NZ) (Sweet Lou) produced a dazzling return to the track when clearing out to score by more than 15 metres.

The three-year-old was having his first start since running an excellent second in the Group One Queensland Derby in July.

Trainer Belinda McCarthy will aim Cantfindabettorman at the upcoming heats of the Group One Victoria Derby.

McCarthy also has NZB Standardbred graduate Cover Girl (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in line for a tilt at the Group One Victoria Oaks.

From NZB Standardbred