Rising stars shine in NZB’s 2YO Harness Million

Cold Chisel (Always B Miki) showed why he shouldn’t be underrated again when prevailing in a thrilling finish to the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts And Geldings harness racing final at Addington on Friday night.

The pacer added the biggest prize yet to his already outstanding résumé when speeding along the inner to score for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan and driver Zachary Butcher.

Cold Chisel was let go by punters to start at $16 odds in Friday night’s lucrative feature, despite his excellent racetrack record, which included his victory in the Group Two Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes (1700m) earlier this year.

The Purdon-Phelan barn has been impressed by the pacer ever since his purchase from the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

Montana Park’s Dean Shannon secured Cold Chisel for $100,000 when he was offered by breeder-vendors Mark and Pauline O’Connor of Denario Breeding.

“He was a lovely pacer as a yearling, and he has been great to do anything with right the way through, which is why he is still a colt,” Phelan said.

“We have an even bunch of two-year-olds, but he really steps up on race day; he is just a nice horse.”
“We were rapt to get the win for Dean tonight.”

Friday night’s NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Final victory came in just the second start of the spring for Cold Chisel, who now has a raft of feature race options in front of him and more fitness to come.

COLD CHISEL REPLAY

Chase A Dream (Captaintreacherous) powered home wide on the track, running an excellent second for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon.

The runner-up was offered among Studholme Bloodstock’s draft at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

Le Major (Art Major) ran an outstanding third for trainer Arna Donnelly and driver Benjamin Butcher, fighting on bravely after setting a fast pace throughout.

Donnelly secured Le Major for $28,000 when he was offered among the Rosedale Farm draft at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

For complete race results, click here.

From NZB Standardbred