Vinke B dominates Sapling Stakes

Vinke B (Vincent) led a harness racing field dominated by NZB Standardbred graduates in the $45,000 Group Two Sheep Milk New Zealand Sapling Stakes (1700m), after speeding to victory at Ashburton on Sunday (Jun. 5).

Four graduates stepped out in the time-honoured two-year-old feature and in an outstanding result, they filled the first four placings.

Offered by Rosedale Farm, Vinke B was purchased by Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen’s All Stars Racing Stable at the 2021 Christchurch National Yearling Sale for $42,000.

After leading throughout, Vinke B fought on strongly to win and register the first stakes level success for emerging sire Vincent (AUS).

VINKE B REPLAY

In a brilliant result for the Alabar stallion, Vincent produced the first two horses home with Wish Me Luck (NZ) (Vincent) fighting on strongly after sitting parked throughout to get within a head of the winner at the line.

Wish Me Luck was purchased by Alabar for $45,000 from breeder-vendors Studholme Bloodstock at the 2021 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

With Style (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) ran on strongly from the rear to round out a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates from the Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen stable.

The two-year-old was purchased by Jean Feiss for $200,000 at the 2021 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, offered by Studholme Bloodstock.

Completing an outstanding result for the Purdon-Cullen barn with their four NZB Standardbred graduates, Dare Devil (NZ) (Sweet Lou) was close up in fourth.

The pacer was purchased for $40,000 by the All Stars Racing Stable at the 2021 Auckland National Yearling Sale, offered among breeder-vendors Tardina Stud.

Since the establishment of NZB Standardbred, three crops of graduates have contested and won the New Zealand Sapling Stakes.

Vinke B followed in the footsteps of, 2020 winner Krug (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and 2021 winner My Ultimate Chevron (NZ) (Sweet Lou) with his victory.

Another NZB Standardbred graduate was to the fore at Ashburton on Sunday with a national record-breaking performance.

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) set a New Zealand record for a three-year-old pacing colt or gelding with his win in the $17,000 Rural Business Accountants Three-Year-Old Champion Stakes (1700m).

The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained pacer sped to an early lead before producing scintillating closing sectionals to win in a 1.59.9 time.

REPUBLICAN PARTY REPLAY

Republican Party was purchased by the Dalgetys’ Kentuckiana Lodge for $210,000 from breeder-vendors Price Bloodstock at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

The colt headed home a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates with Cyrus(NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) finishing second and Onedin Miki (NZ) (Always B Miki) third.

From NZB Standardbred