Sooner The Bettor snares spot in $1m Race by Grins

Interest around Sooner The Bettor’s (Bettor’s Delight) run at Menangle tomorrow night (Feb. 24) just went next level.

Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan’s classy harness racing four-year-old just snared a spot in the $1mil Race By Grins at Cambridge on April 12.

Aaron Bain confirmed the slot he’s involved in with Summit Bloodstock, Richard Cole, Glenn Holland, Stephen Hunt and Trevor Casey has snapped-up Sooner The Bettor for their Race By Grins runner.

“We’re thrilled. It’s a great fit with Richard part of our slot and also a part-owner of Sooner The Bettor,” Bain said.

“Hopefully he comes out and goes really well this week and again in the Chariots Of Fire the week after.”

Bain and co-slot owners are trying to go back-to-back after partnering with Copy That’s owners Merv and Meg Butterworth to win last year’s Race By Grins.

Sooner The Bettor has been a model of consistency at the top level in a wonderful age crop, headed by stablemate Merlin and Don’t Stop Dreaming.

Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, Sooner The Bettor earned lots of Aussie admirers with a slashing fourth to Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Hondo Grattan Stakes at Menangle on February 10.

He stormed home near last to finish fourth, beaten just 3.8m.

The run booked him a spot in tomorrow week’s $250,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.

Purdon and Phelan have opted to keep him sharp with another lead-up run at Menangle tomorrow night in a restricted class race, but one loaded with emergency talent.

Sooner The Bettor will be driven by Gavin Fitzpatrick from gate six. His major rivals look to be Jason Grimson’s pair Our Vinnie (gate one) and Mister Robin Hood (two), along with Jack Trainor’s Kiwi import Rakadan (four), Don Hugo (three) and Neptune (five).

Sooner The Bettor becomes the fourth pacer confirmed for a slot in the Race By Grins and the second for Purdon and Phelan.

Merlin will run in the SENZ slot.

Earlier, Aussie-based Inter Dominion runner-up Better Eclipse snared the TAB NZ slot.

And news came this week that inaugural Race By Grins winner Self Assured would be back, this time in the Hole In The Wall Gang slot.

Despite mixed reports, it looks close to certain Aussie megastar Leap To Fame will also tackle Race By Grins with connections weighing up offers from at least four slot owners.

Leap To Fame steps out in tonight’s $100,000 Group 2 Newcastle Mile where victory would secure him a spot in the $1mil Miracle Mile on March 9.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand