Exciting young trotter doubles his Harness Million tally

Exciting young trotter Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick) doubled his Harness Millions tally at Alexandra Park last Friday when taking out the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO Trotters Final (2200m).

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained gelding won the two-year-old edition at Addington Raceway last year, and his connections were delighted to double up on Friday.

That win was one of six as a juvenile, including the Group One Sires’ Stakes Series 2YO Championship (1980m) and Group One Ace Of Clubs (1980m), with his feats securing him New Zealand Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt or Gelding of the Year.

Meant To Be was first-up in the Harness Million, with just the one private trial, but punters had every faith in the gelding and backed him into $2.20 favouritism.

From his outside draw on the second line, driver Zachary Butcher elected to punch forward early and found the lead down the back straight where he dictated terms throughout and Meant To Be was left untroubled, running out a comfortable 2-½ length victor over stablemate Higher Power (NZ) (Father Patrick).

MEANT TO BE REPLAY

Butcher was full of praise for Meant To Be and is tipping a bright future for the exciting square-gaiter.

“We were a little bit keen early so I opted to go with them and he was beautiful, he trotted like a stag. I drove him like the best horse and he was,” Butcher said.

“I don’t think we have found the bottom of him yet, he always seems to have a little bit left in the tank. He is still pricking the ears at the line and when they get up outside him he gets going. I gave him a little flick at the top of the straight and he took off for two or three strides and he was happy to knock off again.

“This is why we all do it and it is cool to be a part of. I love winning these sort of races.”

Meant To Be is the son of Group One New Zealand Trotting Derby (2600m) winner Luby Lou, and Butcher thinks he is capable of replicating the Derby feat of his dam, and he will get his first opportunity at Alexandra Park later this month in the Group One Northern Trotting Derby (2700m).

“The further he goes the better he gets, and this year he is stronger again,” Butcher said. “He finished that off really well tonight, he was cruising at the line, so hopefully we can keep those manners perfect and he is going to have a very bright future.”

Bred by Breckon Farms, Meant To Be was offered through their 2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Karaka where he was purchased for $145,000 by his trainers.

Meant To Be has now won seven and placed in two of his 10 starts, and has accrued more than $290,000 in prizemoney.

From NZB Standardbred