This could be the one for Zachary

Zachary Butcher thinks Meant To Be (Father Patrick) could be the trotter he’s been waiting for.

“You’d have to say he’s the best trotter I’ve driven. He’s a horse that’s going to take you places in that gait. I’ve always dreamed of driving a good one like that and they’re hard to find. He could be it for me,” Butcher said after the three year old gelding took out the $120,000 Group One IRT Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Trotters Championship at Alexandra Park tonight.

MEANT TO BE REPLAY

Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan and owned by Katrina Purdon and the Clear View Racing Number Six Syndicate, Meant To Be has now won nine of his twelve starts, including four Group Ones and earning stakes of over $400,000.

“Full credit to Barry, Scotty and the team. They’re getting him to improve each time he comes out here.”

In the past Meant To Be has got on the toe in some of his previous starts but tonight he was noticeably more relaxed.

“In the warmup he was happy to trot round on a loose rein which is the first time he’s done that. It’s a learning curve and he’s just going to get better and better. It’s exciting to know that he’s learning the right way of doing it.”

And the race panned out beautifully for him.

“He followed through from the second line beautifully and I was happy to sit parked. I thought Blair (Blair Orange driving Habibti Pat) might wanted to stay in front but we ended up getting to the front. He was just pricking his ears and was so happy out there. Tony (Tony Herlihy driving Youneverknow) came with a bit of speed so I let him get into his work and by the finish he was doing his best work.’”

Meanwhile the Southland owned and trained Duchess Maria made it a feature night double for sire Father Patrick when she took out the IRT Young Guns Final for two year old trotters.

Trainer driver Nathan Williamson was able to take his filly to the lead before handing up to favourite Redpark Warrior with a lap to run.

On straightening for the run home Redpark Warrior turned in first. But once Williamson balanced up his filly she came down the middle of the track to win easily by three lengths.

DUCHESS MARIA REPLAY

Duchess Maria was bred and is owned by Winton couple John and Katrina Price who have bred plenty of feature race winners at Alexandra Park including Democrat Party and her son Republican Party. However this is the first trotter they’ve bred and owned to win at the Auckland venue.

Duchess Maria is out of Maria Tsarina, a Muscle Hill mare that won four races for Paul Nairn.

The family includes a host of very good winners including Last Sunset (18), Real Deal Yankee (11), Great Getaway (10) and Galleon Sunset (14).

The filly has now won both of her starts, and both have been black type races. Her first win was last month in the Group Three Entain Two Year Old Southern Classic at Ascot Park.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink