Meant To Be Unleashes Powerhouse Harness Million Performance

Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick) didn’t need any favours to deliver a powerhouse victory in the $75,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trot (1980m) at Addington on Friday night.

The blueblood youngster never saw cover at any stage of the lucrative feature but it mattered little as his outstanding stamina carried him to a brilliant win for trainer Barry and Scott Phelan.

Higher Power (NZ) (Father Patrick) sealed a perfect result for both the Purdon-Phelan stable and Breckon Farms with his excellent second placing.

On returning to the winner’s circle, driver Zachary Butcher saluted the skies acknowledging the recent passing of his grandmother, Colleen Butcher.

The matriarch of one of harness racing’s most prominent families died on Monday and her funeral was held on Thursday.

Meant To Be (NZ) was one of the highest-priced trotting yearling at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Auckland, secured for $145,000 by his trainers when he was offered by breeder-vendors Breckon Farms.

"It's great for the farm," commented Ken Breckon.

"These are the kind of results you want for the pedigree page, and it gives buyers confidence heading to the sales."  

Meant To Be is by leading trotting sire Father Patrick (USA) and is the first colt from the outstanding Group One winning mare Luby Lou (Muscle Hill).

"He's a big lovely type, looked like he had a good head on his shoulders, but he's got so much more improvement in him to go," commented Co-trainer Phelan.

"We searched long and hard for these two horses, and it's paid off."

The stable also secured the Higher Power from the Breckon Farm draft at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Auckland.

Higher Power worked to an early lead before fighting out an epic home straight duel with his stablemate, only going down by the barest of margins with Phelan in the sulky.

“They both showed their true worth,” Phelan said.

Meant To Be is raced by Katrina Purdon and the Clear View Racing No.6 Syndicate, while Higher Power is raced by Barry Purdon, Richard Cole, Nigel Fahy and the Breckon Racing Syndicate.

The Purdon-Phelan stable previously produced the quinella in the Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trot with Southern Diamond (NZ) (Creatine) and Butcher beating Halberg (NZ) (Father Patrick) and Phelan in 2022.

“Zac has got me again,” Phelan joked.

Ya Rite Darl (NZ) (What The Hill) was right in the fight with the Purdon-Phelan pair in the home straight, running a very creditable third for trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn.

The filly was a bargain $8000 purchase by Diamond Racing Stables out of the Woodlands Stud draft at the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Auckland.