Hail Akuta – Three-year-old king

It was billed as a match between two of harness racing’s best three year old pacers – Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) and Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) and it lived up to its billing.

It was a tactical race but at the end of the day Akuta and co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon took out the great race, beating Republican Party by a staggering six and a half lengths with Southerner Sand Wave running third, three quarters of a length back. 

AKUTA REPLAY

“It played into my hands with Beach Ball (Somebeachsomewhere) not wanting to surrender the lead to Republican Party. The speed was on early and when I opted to make a move a couple popped out in front of me, so I had good cover for the majority of the race. He joined in down the back, and he was really good today,” Purdon told Trackside viewers.

A week earlier Akuta got within a nose of beating his arch rival.

“He thrives on racing. He came here last week, and I was rapt with his performance, but he probably needed the run. Today he was a different horse.”

The time for the Group One $250,000 Sunshine Stars New Zealand Pacing Derby of 3-05.6 was just outside Sheriff’s New Zealand record of 3-05.4. 

Akuta was bought by the All Stars Stable at the 2020 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch for $170,000 and Purdon races the horse in partnership with Ian Dobson.

“This makes it all worthwhile.”

Renwick Farm are offering a full brother to Akuta at February’s NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale in Christchurch.

As a trainer Mark has now won the New Zealand Derby a staggering fourteen times and as a driver twelve times. His first training success in the race was with II Vicolo in 1995. Mark Roy in 1993 was his first driving success in the great race. In the last fourteen Derbys Purdon has trained nine.

His driving record in the race equals the late Maurice Holmes twelve Derby wins which began in 1928 with Wrackler and ended with Willie Win in 1972.

Purdon has driven one hundred and fifty two Group One winners in New Zealand. The first was Godfrey (Double Century) for his father Roy and brother Barry in the 1987 New Zealand Two Year Old Championship.

As a trainer after today’s racing, he’s trained 237 Group One winners. In this own right he’s trained 43, he’s trained 45 with Grant Payne, 130 with Natalie Rasmussen and 19 with Hayden Cullen. Purdon’s first Group One winner was II Vicolo.

The five wins today gives Purdon and Hayden Cullen a one win lead in the New Zealand Trainers Premiership, from Steve and Amanda Telfer who won the Summer Cup with BD Joe. 

For complete Grand Prix Day results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink