Winelight (NZ) Complete Package in Harness Million Victory

Winelight (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) showed she is the complete package with her brilliant victory in the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final (1980m) at Addington on Friday night.

In just her fourth race day start, the classy filly dashed along the inner to take out the lucrative feature for trainer Hayden Cullen and driver Olivia Thornley.

Thornley called on all of Winelight’s qualities in her first Harness Million title.

The reinswoman used the brilliant pacer’s tactical speed, top-end speed and stamina to win when blasting to an early lead before powering inside a game runner-up in Without You (NZ) (Captain Crunch) to win.

“She is developing the all-round game,” Thornley said.

“Gate speed is a beautiful thing in big races like this and we were able to capitalise on it and follow the right horse.”

“It all went to plan.”

After finding the early lead, the decision to settle into a sweet trip in the trail was an easy one for the reinswoman when Without You and Blair Orange came to challenge.

“You know when you get halfway down the straight Blair is not going to hand up with only a round to go.”

“She felt and travelled really good in the running, it was a top run.”

Winelight was purchased by Diamond Racing Stables for $55,000 when she was offered by Lynnex Holdings Ltd at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

The filly showed promise in her spring campaign before taking her game to another level this spring for the Cullen barn.

Without You fought gamely in the run home, going down narrowly in a stellar second for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon.

The filly was purchased by Jean Feiss when she was offered at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Auckland.

Third placegetter Im Sandra Dee (NZ) (Always B Miki) lost no admirers with her gutsy Harness Million effort.

The filly sat parked for much of the feature event before fighting on bravely for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan and driver Zachary Butcher.

Im Sandra Dee was secured by Dean Shannon of Montana Park at the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Auckland.