Bits N Bridles

Quality trotting mare Habibti Pat (Father Patrick) is beginning her preparation for her spring assignments with Woodend Beach trainers Greg and Ben Hope.

She capped off her three year old campaign by winning the Garrards New Zealand Trotting Derby, beating favourite Meant To Be by two and three quarter lengths.

“We’re really happy with her. She’s just started fast work in the last few weeks. She’ll be one to watch. She’s stronger and I think she’s mentally older. We’re happy we gave her a good spell after the Derby. There were no issues with her at all. We wanted to give her a really big spell and look after her because we feel she’s got the potential to look after us. We think this filly could be an open class mare,” Ben said.

Meanwhile Muscle Mountain’s younger sister Odina (Muscle Hill) also trained by the Hopes, is off the active list for the short term and is in foal to Volstead.

“There is the potential of her having the foal and coming back to racing. It would be a pretty valuable colt or filly you would think,” Ben said.

Purchased by the Hopes at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales for $130,000,  Odina has had five starts and a win as a two year old.

“Even though she’s capable of winning more races we’re still deciding whether we bring her back to racing or just keep breeding from her. I think she’ll do a really good job at stud.”

Open class pacer American Me (American Ideal) has moved north to Matty White’s stable.

The aged gelding had fifty eight starts for Brent and Tim White and he won nine, including the Group One Invercargill Cup, the Group Three Methven Cup and the Listed Roy Purdon Memorial.

Earlier in his career, he won nine races for Doug Gale.

The last win for American Me was at the end of January at Cambridge.

In 123 starts he’s won his connections over $430,000.

Prince Nessem qualified at Ascot Park last week and he’s the second foal by Bettor’s Delight stallion Tiger Tara to do so.

Tiger Tara has 13 two year olds on the ground in New Zealand. In Australia he has 329 foals and 28 of those are already winners.

 

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink