High Hopes as Odina Eyes Harness Million
9 October 2024
Eleven trotters will look to follow in the footsteps of Group One graduates such as two and three year old Harness Million winners Outamyway (NZ) (Love You), Highgrove (NZ) (Love You) and Paramount Kiwi (NZ) (Father Patrick), or potential Derby winners like Lovemeto (NZ) (What the Hill).
The NZB Harness Million Series kicks off at Addington Raceway this Friday at 5.44pm, where graduates of NZB Standardbred sales will look to claim their share of the $1 million prize pool.
Part owner and driver of the blueblood filly, Ben Hope believes Odina (NZ) (Muscle Hill) will be one to note going forward, in the $75,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trotting Final (1980m), alongside a stellar line up of young trotting talent.
Odina was purchased by Greg Hope for $130,000 from breeder-vendors Taffy Ltd at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch. The filly is a full sister to the Hope trained superstar trotter Muscle Mountain (NZ) (Muscle Mountain) who will also step out at Addington on Friday night.
It is not hard to see why the Hopes had their eyes on Odina on pedigree alone, but her conformation told the family she was a must-have.
“Being a full-sister to Muscle Mountain we obviously loved her page,” Ben Hope said.
“But we really liked her on type as well, as a yearling she looked really well put together and we were very keen on her.
“I took a 30% share in her and we brought in a great bunch of people to race her with us.
“She definitely looks like she has a good future as a racehorse, but she also looked like a really good investment as a broodmare later on too.”
Odina faces a stern challenge in making her raceday debut among a highly talented field of two-year-olds.
But the Hope camp have full faith in their filly’s ability.
“We really like her, she is definitely a filly with a nice future ahead of her,” Hope said.
“It will be her first time at Addington under lights and she is still a baby, so it will depend on how she handles it all.
“We have no doubt she has a lot of talent there, but it’s all about how she handles the occasion.”
The Hope stable also start Viva La Vida (NZ) (Love You) NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trotting Final.
After making a solid beginning to his career, the youngster looks well capable of being in the finish of Friday night’s feature.
“He has gone two handy races so far and has shown good manners, hopefully he can go another good race,” Hope said.
Odina has been rated the third favourite for the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trotting Final behind Ya Rite Darl (NZ) (What The Hill) and Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick).
Ya Rite Darl already has feature race form on the board having won the Group Three New Zealand Two-Year-Old Trotting Stakes (1980m) in May for trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn.
Meant To Be comes into Friday night’s event after a highly impressive victory at Alexandra Park for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.
| Horse | Breeding | Trainer | Price | Vendor | Purchaser | Stakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luby’s Luck | What The Hill-Luby Ann | M & N Purdon | $65,000 | Breckon Farms Ltd | Breckon Farms Ltd | $888 |
| Viva La Vida | Love You-Quite A Moment | G & N Hope | $36,000 | T. M. Jones | Mr WR Stewart | $1,763 |
| Odina | Muscle Hill-Paramount Faith | G & N Hope | $130,000 | L. Smith | Mr G Hope | |
| Hadleymae | Father Patrick-Renezmae | J Harrington | $25,000 | Mr JD Harrington | Mr JD Harrington | |
| Ya Rite Darl | What The Hill-Gogirl Bromac | R & J Dunn | $8,000 | Woodlands Stud NZ Ltd | Diamond Racing Stables Ltd | $53,550 |
| Della’s Fella | What The Hill-Della's Spur | M House | $5,000 | Woodlands Stud NZ Ltd | Mentally Stable Ltd | $875 |
| Cyclone Sala | Majestic Son-Cyclone Dani | A Matthews | $12,000 | Alabar (NZ) Ltd | Ms A Matthews | $4,400 |
| Higher Power | Father Patrick-High Gait | B Purdon & S Phelan | $120,000 | Breckon Farms Ltd | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan Racing Stables | $42,788 |
| Paddy McDaddy | Father Patrick-Tip Your Hat Loui | R & J Dunn | $31,000 | White Stables | Diamond Racing Stables Ltd | $8,375 |
| Johnny Trotter | What The Hill-Dragons Sister | R & J Dunn | $15,000 | R. G. Anderson | Diamond Racing Stables Ltd | |
| Meant To Be | Father Patrick-Luby Lou | B Purdon & S Phelan | $145,000 | Breckon Farms Ltd | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan Racing Stables | $33,975 |