Magic Merlin wins Harness Million

Both horse and driver have a great sense of where the harness racing winning post is and once again Merlin (Art Major) and driver Zachery Butcher timed their run to perfection to win the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million for Three Year Old Colts and Geldings at Cambridge Raceway tonight (Feb. 17).

Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, Merlin settled back in the field before getting a cart up into the race on the three wide train. Just before turning in, Butcher peeled the colt out to make his run four wide and the three year old got up to beat stablemate Sooner The Bettor (Bettor’s Delight) by a head with another head back to a late charging Sinbad (Downbytheseaside). 

“That was pretty exciting. I tell you what, the stablemate and Scotty (Phelan) had me chasing hard. It would have been a good result either way but I’m rapt I got the call,” Butcher told TAB Trackside presenter Nicole Sims.

The 2200 metres was cut out in 2-39.5 with the last half run in 56.7.

“It was always going to be hard because we’d run along nice enough and they’ve still got home in 27.5 and when you’re four wide around here it’s very hard work. So kudos to the big fella because he put his head in front at the right time. I’m just glad he’s done it again tonight.” 

MERLIN REPLAY

After tonight’s success consideration could be given to a trip to Australia.

“After the Harness Million the Northern Derby is definitely on the cards and there’s a slight chance that he could go to the NSW Derby depending on how we are at the time because the horse comes first,” co-trainer Scott Phelan told me last month. 

The Heats for the NSW Derby are a week after the Harness Million with the final held the following week. A quick decision will need to be made.

Tonight’s win is a great result for the training partnership and breaks the dominance Barry’s brother Mark has held in this event for the last few years.

Barry has good memories of this race. He drove and co-trained Hitchcock (Payson’s Brother) with his late father Roy to win the race in 1993 and II Vicolo (Vance Hanover) in 1995.

The win is a huge boost for Pierson Breeding Partnership. They have a filly by Captaintreacherous out of Cullens Bet (Christian Cullen) (who’s a half-sister to Merlin) entered in next week’s NZB Standardbred New Zealand National Standardbred Yearling Sale in Christchurch. She’s Lot 248.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink