Paramount Kiwi wins his second Harness Million

The Matt White trained Paramount Kiwi (Father Patrick) proved too smart for five harness racing rivals in the $75,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three Year Old Trotters Final at Alexandra Park tonight.

The Merc (Royal Aspirations) took up the role of pacemaker, running a 42 second lead up time with Paramount Kiwi dropping in to get a trail. The gelding relaxed beautifully for White but turning in The Merc started to feel the pinch and Princess Sadie (Muscle Mass) popped out of the one one and tried to pinch a break. White who had got off The Merc’s back looked to have run into a small traffic jam but once he got Paramount Kiwi back to the inside running line, he trotted home nicely to beat Princess Sadie by three quarters of a length with Bounce And Beyond (Majestic Son) five and a half lengths away in third.

“We ended up getting a nice trip but not following the one we ideally wanted to be following. It got a bit tight at the top of the straight but he held his gait and his nerve. He balanced up well and really hit the line. He’s a lovely obliging horse,” White told Jo Stevens on Trackchat.

Paramount Kiwi’s winning time of 2-46.8 was more than a second outside the race record of 2-45.4 jointly held by 2022 winner Lovemeto and Highgrove, the 2023 winner.

The win was the three year old’s fifth in six starts and his second Harness Million win. He won the two year old edition at Addington in October.

“I always thought he’d be a nice horse from the get-go. His attitude, manners and temperament are great and he’s always with you. He’s good for me and makes me look good.”

Paramount Kiwi has a deep pedigree that features top age group trotters like Paramount Gee Gee who was two, three and four year old trotter of his year and Paramount King who was 2016-2017 Two Year Old Trotter of his year.

Offered by Studholme Stud and GF Gimblett, Paramount Kiwi was purchased out of the 2022 NZB Standardbred Christchurch Sales by White for $40,000.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink