NZ Record for Father Patrick filly in Hambletonian Classic

The Phil Williamson trained Father Patrick filly Isolate was a brilliant winner of the Group 3 Hambletonian Classic at Ashburton on Labour Day, easily downing her rivals in a new New Zealand record for 3-year-old trotters over the 1700m.

Four back on the marker pegs for much of the race, Isolate was angled out at the top of the straight and roared home to score by two and three quarter lengths.

Her winning time of 2:03.3 (mile rate 1:56.6) lowered Mystic Maxʻs 3-year-old all-comers record, set in last yearʻs Hambletonian, by 0.1 of a second, and smashed the fillies record, held by Bohemian Rhapsody, by 2.6 seconds.

It was a Father Patrick sired quinella in the race, with the Group 1 winner Confessional a game second after racing without cover for much of the trip.

In winning the Hambletonian, Isolate emulated her dam, the Sundon mare Escapee, who won the race back in 2012.

Father Patrick is currently a close second on the NZ 3YO Trotting Sires Premiership and leads the NZ 2YO Trotting Sires Table.

Frozen semen for Father Patrick is available to breeders in both New Zealand and Australia this season for a fee of NZ$7,500 + GST and AU$8,250 including GST and is pay on live foal with multiple mare discounts applying.