November 27, 2025
The battle of the country’s best three-year-olds continues in the $300,000 New Zealand Pacing Derby tonight. The advantage may be with the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Got The Chocolates, drawing inside the Regan Todd-trained Marketplace at barrier four.
Got the Chocolates has won his past three starts, with Marketplace having to be content with second each time. This year, Got The Chocolates has really developed into a smart, tough horse and seems to have the bettor of last year’s 2YO Horse of the Year in Marketplace.
Race nine has a very strong field of eight runners, but it would be hard to bet against either of them with the scintillating form they are in. Another highlight tonight will be the matchup in the $125,000 Christian Cullen 4YO Classic in race 10 between the rising star The Lazarus Effect and more seasoned horses, including New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Kingman and We Walk By Faith.
It was very unlucky in the trotting cup, finishing fifth after only finding a gap late in the run home. The Lazarus Effect has won four of his past five starts impressively, but this is a huge step up for the son of Lazarus and with a tricky draw of five he will need to use the speed he has showed in earlier races to get a handy position to have a chance of beating the two favourites.
Junior driver Carter Dalgety will take the reins tonight, with trainer Bob Butt opting to drive his other starter in Sideshow Bruce. The other runner that cannot be discounted is the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained runner It’s Tough who, like The Lazarus Effect, is unknown at this level but has shown he deserves consideration, having won five of his past six starts.
By Wendy Nordqvist
The battle of the country’s best three-year-olds continues in the $300,000 New Zealand Pacing Derby tonight. The advantage may be with the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Got The Chocolates, drawing inside the Regan Todd-trained Marketplace at barrier four.
Got the Chocolates has won his past three starts, with Marketplace having to be content with second each time. This year, Got The Chocolates has really developed into a smart, tough horse and seems to have the bettor of last year’s 2YO Horse of the Year in Marketplace.
Race nine has a very strong field of eight runners, but it would be hard to bet against either of them with the scintillating form they are in. Another highlight tonight will be the matchup in the $125,000 Christian Cullen 4YO Classic in race 10 between the rising star The Lazarus Effect and more seasoned horses, including New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Kingman and We Walk By Faith.
It was very unlucky in the trotting cup, finishing fifth after only finding a gap late in the run home. The Lazarus Effect has won four of his past five starts impressively, but this is a huge step up for the son of Lazarus and with a tricky draw of five he will need to use the speed he has showed in earlier races to get a handy position to have a chance of beating the two favourites.
Junior driver Carter Dalgety will take the reins tonight, with trainer Bob Butt opting to drive his other starter in Sideshow Bruce. The other runner that cannot be discounted is the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained runner It’s Tough who, like The Lazarus Effect, is unknown at this level but has shown he deserves consideration, having won five of his past six starts.
By Wendy Nordqvist
