Millwood Nike next level

Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous) lifted his status to new levels at Addington today (Nov. 14) on the biggest harness racing day of the year.

She held on to her unbeaten run, and now has sixteen in a row. And despite getting well behind the leading runners early in the race, she came four wide to win by six lengths in a new New Zealand record time. Her amazing run evaluates her into the group of top three year old fillies in this country, ever.

“We know she’s always been good and she had to have a bit of luck today to overcome a full field like that and come out on top, so I’m very very proud,” co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon said after the run.

With the challenging run and Aardiebytheseaside’s (Downbytheseaside) breakneck speed a lesser horse might have thrown in the towel. But Millwood Nike proved her potential champion status.

“I was certainly worried at the start. They were going hard the whole way and I had a hard time holding the back of Zac and Mantra Blue. It worked out being a good thing because Jonny Cox (Sweet Diamond) popped out in front of me and following him helped me out a little bit.”

The winning time of 2-20.4 was a new race, track and New Zealand record. Trainers generally don’t like to compare horses from different eras but a proud Mark Purdon placed Millwood Nike up there with the best mares.

“She’s very very good and she’s in the sort of category that Adore Me is in.”

Mark Purdon as a trainer or co-trainer has won the Nevele R Fillies Final eleven times. The first was with Happy Hazel in 1989.  He’s won nine of the last twelve finals.

MILLWOOD NIKE REPLAY

Although Mantra Blue (Sweet Lou) was six lengths away, trainer Zac Butcher was immensely proud of his three year old.

“Super run today, it’s the first time we’ve asked her to do work and she had to do a hell of a lot of it. We’ve set the New Zealand record and have got close to one of the best fillies you will see in a while,” he said.

Butcher was impressed by Millwood Nike’s run, but in true harness racing spirit he would like to turn the tables one day.

“I think we cleared away from the rest of them and I think there is improvement in her and hopefully we improve enough to one day beat Millwood Nike.”

Advance Party (Bettor’s Delight) trained by Nathan Williamson ran home well from a long way back to grab third.

“It was a great run, but she broke the NZ record in her first start as a two year old. We’ve had some problems with tie-up and stuff, but we are happy. A Group One placing is always good for the breed. She’s going to come home tomorrow, and I think we’ll train her going forward. Nathan thinks she might be better in a smaller stable. She just worries about a few things,” part owner John Price said after the run.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink