Marketplace Sensational In Sires’ Stakes Final

Marketplace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) has been the talk of New Zealand harness racing for the last two seasons, and the volume on that subject has only gone up following his win in last Friday’s Group One NZ Sires’ Stakes Series 3YO C&G Final (1980m) at Addington Raceway.

Despite drawing the outside of the second row, Marketplace was sent out a $1.30 favourite by punters, and he did not disappoint.

The Regan Todd-trained gelding was following Deadline (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) off the gate, and the script couldn’t have been written any better, with driver Gavin Smith launching the Tom Bagrie-trained gelding off the mobile arm, allowing Marketplace to follow in him through.

Deadline found the top with ease, while driver Craig Ferguson had to spend some petrol early with Marketplace to continue to push forward four wide, but found the lead after just 400m.

He remained untouched upfront until driver John Dunn began to apply pressure on the outside with Got The Chocolates (NZ) (Art Major) from the 400m. Marketplace responded and shot clear by two lengths at the top of the straight, but Got The Chocolates showed his tenacity to wear down the leader to get within three-quarters of a length at the winning post.

It was the fourth Group One victory in Marketplace’s burgeoning career, with Ferguson in the bike on every occasion, and he was duly proud of his charge’s efforts.

“I certainly didn’t expect to be there (lead after 400m),” Ferguson said. “I thought we were going to have to sit parked, but luckily the one in front of me (Deadline) went forward, we managed to poke through and got a good run after that.

“He was certainly sharper tonight. Johnny’s (Dunn) fella (Got The Chocolates) got pretty close to him, but we had to do a fair bit of work early and he certainly went super.

“He is an absolutely amazing horse, he has stepped up time and time again. I am so lucky I get to drive him.

“He has certainly earned a good spell, it will do him good, and bring on the second part of the year.”

With the victory, Marketplace has now won 10 and placed in two of his 16 starts, and accrued more than $670,000 in earnings.

He has had a stellar three-year-old season to date, winning four of his six starts, including the Group One Woodlands Stud Northern Derby (2700m), NZ Sires’ Stakes Series Final and Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO C&G Final (2200m), and placed in the Group Two Alabar 3YO Classic (2200m).

Marketplace is out of five-win Christian Cullen mare Cullen Who (NZ) (Christian Cullen), who is also the dam of stakes winner Who’s Delight (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

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

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