Father Patrick’s progeny flying in New Zealand
Father Patrick’s dominance of age group trotting in New Zealand in recent years was again on display over the weekend, with him siring the first three runners home in the Group 1 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby, as well as the winner of the Group 3 Entain 2YO Southern Classic.
As expected in the Northern Trotting Derby at Alexandra Park on Friday night, it was the odds on favourite Meant To Be who extended his winning streak to seven races in a row, but not before being given a decent fright from his stablemate Higher Power who pushed him hard in the home straight.
Starting from his customary unruly spot, Meant To Be worked his way forward to take the lead from Higher Power with two laps to go.
Ahead by a length and a half at the top of the home straight Meant To Be had to dig deep as Higher Power ate into his lead with every stride, with last season’s New Zealand 2YO Male Trotter of the Year prevailing by a nose at the line.
The Greg and Ben Hope trained filly Habibti Pat was an eye catching third, a length and a quarter back, after storming home from last with 450m to run.
The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained Meant To Be has now won eight of his 11 starts and $345,346 in stakes earnings.
Bred by the race's sponsor, Breckon Farms (whom also bred the runner-up), Meant To Be is out of the New Zealand Trotting Derby winning Muscle Hill mare Luby Lou.
In the 2YO Southern Classic at Invercargill on Sunday afternoon, it was the debutant filly Duchess Maria who emerged triumphant.
Unbeaten at the trials, the Nathan Williamson trained filly was sent out the race favourite and delivered accordingly.
Though held up when the tiring pacemaker came back on her approaching the home turn, Duchess Maria angled out and quickly reeled in Who’s Ya Daddy to win going away by three-quarters of length.
Like Meant To Be, Duchess Maria is out of a Muscle Hill mare in the four-win Maria Tsarina.
She was bred by John and Katrina Price who also race her.
Such is Father Patrick’s dominance in New Zealand at the moment that he is currently the country’s leading sire of 2YO, 3YO and 4YO trotters, as well as being second on the All Age Trotting Sires Table with less than a third of the foals of the leading stallion.