By Duane Ranger
Last Saturday night’s ultra-impressive New South Wales Oaks winner, Partyon, is jumping out of her skin, and looks poised to win this Friday’s Group One $125,000 Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks for the 3YO pacing fillies at Alexandra Park.
The brilliant unbeaten daughter of Bettor’s Delight will be looking to make it 10 straight in the 2700m mobile, and according to her co-owner Ken Breckon of the ‘Breckon Farms and Top 10 Syndicate’, you wouldn’t know she’s been in a race just a couple of nights ago.
“She’s eaten up every grain and not long after that Oaks win in Sydney she was so fired up it looked like she wanted to go out and do it all again.
“In fact she was so excited she tried to kick my mate Phil Kennard as he was cheering Have Faith In Me home in a later race. I would have loved to have had a camera. The expression on his face was priceless,” Breckon said.
He said Partyon would beat him home to New Zealand.
“She left at 4.30am this morning (Tuesday) and I’m leaving at lunchtime. We are so proud of her. She will make a very valuable broodmare one day. Her breeding will look good on the pedigree page. That means a lot to us as well,” Breckon said.
The former vice-president of the Auckland Trotting Club was still in awe of Partyon’s 1.1 metre victory over the talented 3-year-old Australian filly, Petacular.
“She had to be good to beat her because that filly is one of Australasia’s best. Sure we got the nice sit in behind the pace but the gap closed up along the markers and Mark (Purdon) had to re-balance her and come again on the outside.
“She displayed enormous sprint and tenacity to get up and collar Petacular. We are very proud of her. We would love to win the Northern Oaks this Friday. We know we have got the horse-power to do it,” Breckon said.
The Breckon – Purdon combination have nailed the Northern Oaks previously when Twist And Twirl won in 3:21 even in 2012.
“That was a special night. I don’t think Friday’s draw of seven will bother her too much. I think Mark will press on from out there and then try and lead all the way.
“It’s not a given though because her stablemate Spanish Armada is a very good filly and she will take some beating. Our only consolation is that she has drawn one on the second line (9),” said Breckon.
Partyon has won three from three in New Zealand including the Group One $150,000 Harness Jewels Diamond 2YO Fillies Final at Cambridge on June 4 last year.
Her two other Group One wins came in Australia. In fact she has a six from six winning record over there, including Saturday’s $200,000 NSW Oaks, and the Group One $280,000 Alabar Breeders Crown 2yo Final at Melton’s Tabcorp Park on August 28 last year.
The gifted bay, who was born on September 12, 2013, also recorded her fastest mile in Australia. That was in the Group Three $18,000 J. L. Raith Memorial at Tabcorp Park Menangle on January 14 when she stopped the clock in 1:51.3
She’s no stranger to Alexandra Park either. In fact the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained filly won on debut in a $12,000 fillies and mares 2yo and older pace on May 13 last year.
That was a 2200m mobile. Friday’s Group One will be her first start over the 2700m.
Breckon said Partyon would now follow a similar schedule to what stablemate, Dream About Me, undertook last season with her main goal being the Group One $140,000 New Zealand Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Final and the Group One $150,000 New Zealand Oaks – both at
Addington Raceway on May 12 and May 19 respectively.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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