Fly High gets the trip to win Nevele R heat

While some of her higher profile opposition went to war, Fly High (Bettor’s Wish) in the cool hands of Harrison Orange sat back, watched the race upfold and came with the last run to dab Ride The Wave and Ripples in last night’s harness racing heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series at Alexandra Park.

Favourite Ride The Waves took the front but was under constant pressure to hold up and Ripples was left in no man’s land, but still wanting to press forward.

Fly High sat back, did no work and got the passing lane.

“I wasn’t sure what was happening. There was a lot going on. It worked out good and I got the run up the inside. It was a great effort to run Ride The Waves down,” Orange said.

At the line Fly High had three quarters of a length margin over a very brave Ride The Waves with one and a half lengths back to an equally courageous Ripples.

“She actually over-raced quite bad. She got pretty keen sitting in behind it all.”

The Barry Purdon Scott Phelan trained filly is now starting to fashion a very good record, this was her fifth win in just twelve starts.

“She definitely showed a lot of speed to make up that ground. It’s always handy when they can be driven with one run without doing the work.”

When it comes to the pecking order for three year old fillies in this country based on stakes won, two daughters of Bettor’s Wish – Secret Wish and Fly High are at the top.

"Fly High is low flying!" 🔥

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained Filly was given a brilliant drive by Harrison Orange, sitting back before storming down the passing lane.

LIVE 📺 https://t.co/hIPmC7TmTV@AlexandraPark | @HarnessRacingNZ | @WoodlandsStudNZ pic.twitter.com/jFZXgMOMKR

— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) September 25, 2026

Bettor’s Wish stands at Dancingonmoonlight Farm in Canterbury.

The result also highlights the wonderful job Fly High’s dam Flyover owned by John and Maurice McDermott, has done. She has left Jordy (11), Jeremiah (8), Bettor Fly (5), Fly High (5) and the promising Jorga who ran second at her only start – in the G3 Helen Pope Memorial.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink