Unbeaten In The Spotlight powerful in Group One victory

In The Spotlight (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) added to the incredible record of success NZB Standardbred graduates have had in Western Australian feature races, after winning the A$100,000 Group One Two-Year-Old Diamond Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday 28 May.

The Greg and Skye Bond trained filly remained unbeaten in just her third start when clearing out from her rivals for driver Ryan Warwick.

In The Spotlight was purchased by her trainers for $50,000 out of Breckon Farms’ draft at the NZB Standardbred 2020 National Yearling Sale in Auckland.

“It was a great result,” Breckon Farms co-owner Ken Breckon commented.

“She was a lovely yearling, a big, strong Bettor’s Delight filly.”

Warwick moved the two-year-old up to the parked position early in Friday night’s race before the pair found cover in the middle stages.

In The Spotlight then swept to the lead at the 400 metre mark before she powered home to claim an emphatic Group One victory.

Bred by Breckon Farms, In The Spotlight was the only New Zealand-bred filly in Friday night’s 12 horse field, cementing her dominance over her Australian-bred rivals.

In The Spotlight’s success also bolstered her family’s impressive stakes-winning record, while adding valuable black-type to her pedigree page.

Her dam Goodlookingbabe (NZ) (Mach Three) is a half-sister to six-time Group One winner Elle Mac (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and multiple Group performer Miss Streisand (NZ) (A Rocknroll Dance).

Breckon Farms plan to offer a full sister to In The Spotlight at NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Yearling Sale in Auckland.

“I had a $50,000 reserve on In The Spotlight and I couldn’t let her go for any less because she is from such a good family,” Ken Breckon said.

“Brent Mangos inspected her for Greg and Skye Bond.

“They are coming over from Perth for the Harness Jewels and plan to head out to the farm and check out the rest of our stock.

“They will be able to have a look at the full sister to In The Spotlight, who will be going to the yearling sales next year,” he said.

In The Spotlight has two more siblings including a three-year-old half-sister by American Ideal in Allamericanlover (NZ), who has won three times and placed twice in only six starts.

The Steve and Amanda Telfer trained filly was a $35,000 purchase from Breckon Farms the 2019 National Yearling Sale in Auckland.

A yearling half-brother to In The Spotlight, Havapunt (NZ) (Betting Line), was purchased by Brent Mangos from Breckon Farms for $40,000 at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Auckland.