Meant To Be Continues Dominance At Alex Park

Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick) has been an unstoppable force among New Zealand’s three-year-old trotting ranks, and he continued his golden run at Alexandra Park last Saturday night.

Following a picket fence form line of seven prior victories, punters had every faith in the talented youngster, backing him into $1.60 favouritism for the Group One NZ Sires’ Stakes 3YO Trotts Championship Mobile Trot (2200m), and their trust was duly vindicated. 

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained gelding once again began from the outside of the second row, and driver Zachary Butcher once again took a positive approach with his charge.

Heading down the back straight the first time, Butcher already had his charge placed prominently in the parked position, and he continued to apply pressure to leader Habibti Pat (NZ) (Father Patrick) before attaining the lead at the bell.

Meant To Be wasn’t given it all his own way, with Tony Herlihy launching Youneverknow (NZ) (What The Hill) around the pack to attack the leader, and the two went head-to-head, opening up several lengths on the pack from the 400m.

They continued their duel down the homestraight, but Meant To Be proved too strong, getting the better of his rival to score a 2-¼ length victory.

Butcher has piloted Meant To Be in all 12 of his career starts and he has been pleased with his progress, and is looking forward to when he is a fully furnished trotter.

“Full credit to Barry, Scotty and the team. They’re getting him to improve each time he comes out here,” Butcher said.

“In the warm-up he was happy to trot around on a loose rein, which is the first time he’s done that. It’s a learning curve and he’s just going to get better and better. It’s exciting to know that he’s learning the right way of doing it.” 

Butcher has a high opinion of Meant To Be and while he already rates him the best trotter he has sat behind, he believes the best is yet to come.

“You’d have to say he’s the best trotter I’ve driven,” he said. “He’s a horse that’s going to take you places in that gait. I’ve always dreamed of driving a good one like that and they’re hard to find. He could be it for me.”

Bred by Breckon Farms, Meant To Be is out of Group One New Zealand Trotting Derby (2600m) heroine Luby Lou. He replicated his dam’s Derby winning efforts when taking out the Group One Northern Trotting Derby (2700m) at Alexandra Park on ANZAC Day.

Meant To Be was offered through Breckon Farms’ 2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Karaka where he was purchased for $145,000 by his trainers.

Meant To Be has now won nine and placed in two of his 12 starts to date, and has accrued more than $406,000 in prizemoney.

Vendor	Breckon Farms Ltd
Purchaser	Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan Racing Stables
Owner(s)	Mrs K J Purdon, Clear View Racing No.6 Syndicate
Breeding	Father Patrick - Luby Lou
Sale	2023 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Auckland ($145,000)
Breeder(s)	Breckon Farms Ltd