Marketplace Continues Meteoric Rise In Group One Northern Derby

Marketplace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) stamped his credentials once again as New Zealand’s most exciting young pacer when comfortably winning the Group One Woodlands Stud Northern Derby (2700m) at Alexandra Park on ANZAC Day.

Last season’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year was driven like the best horse in the race by Craig Ferguson and led from go to whoa, with Marketplace showing his superior talent in the homestraight, running out a seven-length victor.

Ferguson said the intent was always to race positively from their ace draw.

“We thought we had to use the draw, he was the horse to beat and they are always going to try to drive to beat you,” Ferguson said. “We didn’t want to risk being put back on the fence. I just thought the best option was to stay in front and I had full confidence in him that he was good enough.

“He is such a lovely horse, he relaxes really well. When we got to the last bend he changed gear and he knew it was game time. It was quite amazing that he had plenty still left in the tank.

“He is an absolute machine. He had to do it pretty tough tonight, he had to earn it, and that was a super run.”

The son of Bettor’s Delight continues to go from strength-to-strength for trainer Regan Todd, who is enjoying the ride of a lifetime with his talented three-year-old.

“I am very lucky to have him and he has taken us on a hell of a ride, we just have to sit back and enjoy it,” Todd said.

“He is just a wee ripper, he is keeping on getting better and better. We have got a couple of big races back home (Canterbury) in the middle of the month (May) so fingers-crossed we can keep him in cotton wool and have another go.”

The result would have also been welcomed by prominent Australian owner Joshua Davine, who recently purchased Marketplace’s dam, Cullen Who (NZ) (in-foal to Bettor’s Delight), and her Bettor’s Delight weanling filly off Gavelhouse Standabred for $185,000 and $95,000 respectively.

Cullen Who won five races on the track before going on to become a broodmare gem, producing Marketplace and Who’s Delight, who at Addington Raceway on Friday recorded his 10th career win, headlined by his Listed Uncut Gems Geldings & Entires Classic (1980m) victory.

Marketplace was offered through Barron Bloodstock’s 2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft in Christchurch where he was purchased by Phil and Glenys Kennard for $100,000.

Marketplace has now won eight of his 14 starts, three of those at elite-level, and he has accrued more than $555,000 in prizemoney for his connections.

Vendor	Barron Bloodstock
Purchaser	PI & GJ Kennard Bloodstock Ltd
Owner(s)	Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, P I Baken, Small Car World Ltd, R J Magness, R W Todd
Breeding	Bettor's Delight - Cullen Who
Sale	2023 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($100,000)
Breeder(s)	G J McKenzie,G W Simon,Mrs M W Simon,T R Barron,A B Clark