Alexandra Park Race 4

WOODLANDS STUD 2026 YEARLING DRAFT HANDICAP PACE

Prize Money: -

SOONER THE BETTOR (6) finished third last start over 3200m at this track, beaten 2 metres, after scoring at the previous appearance over 1609m at this track. Has the talent to take this out. VILLAGE REBEL (5) produced a better effort last time out when he scored by 3 metres over 2200m at Cambridge Raceway. Meets some better types this time but another big run is on the cards. FINAL CHANGE (2) is close to a win after two successive placings, the latest a second over 2200m at this track. Great chance to break through. KINGS WATCH (4) has been about the mark of late and must be respected, the latest offering a sound fourth at Taupo over 2600m.

Distance: 2200m
Class: R51 & faster
Track: Fast
Weather: Raining
Surface: All Weather

Final Change (Fr2) 71432
Trainer: Arna Donnelly (Cambridge)
Driver: Tony Herlihy
Prize Money: $66,839
Win / Place: 18% / 55%

Driver Flying

4 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: Bettor's Delight

Dam: Super Change

Dam's Sire: Mach Three

100

Rating

Stats

Career

27: 5-6-4

Distance

11: 2-4-2

Trk/Dst

10: 2-4-2

Track

15: 2-4-3

Season

12: 2-4-2

1st Up

2: 0-0-1

2nd Up

2: 0-0-0

3rd Up

2: 0-0-1

Metro

15: 2-4-3

Non-Metro

12: 3-2-1

Mobile

23: 5-6-1

Standing

4: 0-0-3

All-Weather

25: 5-6-3

Slushy

2: 1-0-1

Grass

2: 0-0-1

Left Handed

12: 3-3

Right Handed

15: 2-7

Favourite

2: 1-0-0

2nd Favourite

4: 1-1-0

Best Mile

1:57.80

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

7: 1-4-1

Driver Last 50

50: 11-5-7

Gear Changes

[Removable Deafeners]

Comments

Bold minors since his win here, NYE. Can make his presence felt from front tape.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result	Race Review
2nd of 6	30/1/26	Auckland	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	Tony Herlihy	1:59.5	1:59.5	1.1m	$4.70	10	R48 to R67 MOB. PACE	$13,832	$2,395	1. Spiritual Bliss 2. Final Change 3. Blazing Louie	Eased,wd rear 1300,prkd,ld 100,cght
3rd of 6	20/1/26	Hawera	2000m	Standing	Grass	20m1	Andre Poutama	2:07.1	2:07.1	3.2m	$4.60	2	R45 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$16,273	$1,727	1. American Me 2. Rough And Ready 3. Final Change	Ld out,trld 1450,held up,thru,stout
4th of 5	18/1/26	Hawera	2000m	Standing	Grass	Fr1	Andre Poutama	2:06.6	2:06.6	3.8m	$7.70	18	R57 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$15,955	$1,091	1. Double Time 2. Rough And Ready 3. American Me	4th inr,4-bk,3-bk,bold bid on mrks
1st of 10	31/12/25	Auckland	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	Andre Poutama	2:41.1	1:57.8	0.3m	$14	12	3YO+ R48 to R62 MOB. PACE	$21,932	$12,500	1. Final Change 2. The Jolly Roger 3. Louezyana	6th otr,3-bk bell,wd 500,5w,up post
7th of 12	19/12/25	Auckland	1609m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	Tony Herlihy	1:56.6	1:56.6	18.8m	$28	14	3YO R38 to R73 MOB. PACE	$45,455	$1,136	1. Tyson 2. Debbie Lincoln 3. The Night Agent	Eased,wd cvr rear 1050,no final zip
3rd of 6	5/12/25	Auckland	2700m	Standing	All Weather	Fr2	Tony Herlihy	2:02.1	2:02.1	3.5m	$6.00	14	3YO+ R53 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$20,341	$2,159	1. Beta Prepare 2. Village Rebel 3. Final Change	Brk,5th,prkd 1050,cvr 700,wd,strong

Blazing Louie (FrU1) 39623
Trainer: Nicky Chilcott (Cambridge Raceway)
Driver: Nicky Chilcott
Prize Money: $61,912
Win / Place: 16% / 43%

7 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: Sweet Lou

Dam: Secret Love

Dam's Sire: Real Desire

Rating

Stats

Career

30: 5-5-3

Distance

22: 4-4-3

Trk/Dst

18: 4-4-2

Track

23: 4-5-2

Season

10: 2-1-2

1st Up

8: 2-1-1

2nd Up

5: 0-1-0

3rd Up

5: 1-1-0

Metro

23: 4-5-2

Non-Metro

7: 1-0-1

Mobile

29: 5-5-3

Standing

1: 0-0-0

All-Weather

30: 5-5-3

Slushy

3: 1-1-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Left Handed

7: 1-1

Right Handed

23: 4-7

Favourite

7: 1-3-0

2nd Favourite

5: 2-0-0

Best Mile

1:56.58

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

9: 2-1-2

Driver Last 50

50: 6-5-8

Gear Changes

Removable Deafeners ON, Fixed Deafeners OFF [Removable Deafeners]

Comments

Last two outings here have netted cheques and he's a clear contender once again.

Expected Settling Position: Off Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result	Race Review
3rd of 6	30/1/26	Auckland	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Nicky Chilcott	1:59.5	1:59.5	4.0m	$12	7	R48 to R67 MOB. PACE	$13,832	$1,468	1. Spiritual Bliss 2. Final Change 3. Blazing Louie	Prkd,cvr 1750,3-bk,wdst,strong fin
2nd of 6	23/1/26	Auckland	1700m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Nicky Chilcott	1:55.9	1:55.9	4.6m	$22	14	R51 to R56 MOB. PACE	$12,205	$2,114	1. Doo You Want Me 2. Blazing Louie 3. Iron Brigade	Nice trip otr,peeled top,strong fin
6th of 9	9/1/26	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Nicky Chilcott	1:59.6	1:59.6	6.7m	$13	16	R50 to R65 MOB. PACE	$12,921	$239	1. Louezyana 2. Blue Chip Lou 3. You Little Beauty	3 & 4-bk mrks,off,stout mid,no gap
9th of 10	24/12/25	WaikBoP	2700m	Standing	All Weather	10m2	Nicky Chilcott	2:01.6	2:01.6	32.3m	$8.60	12	R50 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$21,932	$398	1. Rough And Ready 2. Iron Brigade 3. Claude	Brk,rear otr,3-bk,wd cvr,no pick-up
3rd of 7	12/12/25	Auckland	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	Nicky Chilcott	1:57.8	1:57.8	8.9m	$6.40	15	R49 to R63 MOB. PACE	$12,444	$1,295	1. Diamonds Are Forever 2. Invisible 3. Blazing Louie	Eased,6th otr,1x1,3-bk,wd top,stout
1st of 6	27/11/25	WaikBoP	1700m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	Nicky Chilcott	2:05.7	1:58.9	2.2m	$4.00	34	3YO+ R42 to R54 MOB. PACE	$6,509	$4,000	1. Blazing Louie 2. Beta Prepare 3. Dreams Of Eric	5th inr,1x1 750,wd top,too powerful
34 Day Freshen-Up

Kings Watch (FrU2) 31344
Trainer: Todd Mitchell (Tauwhare)
Driver: Todd Mitchell
Prize Money: $30,425
Win / Place: 23% / 52%

7 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: He's Watching

Dam: Monaro

Dam's Sire: In The Pocket

Rating

Stats

Career

17: 4-1-4

Distance

15: 4-0-4

Trk/Dst

5: 0-0-0

Track

6: 0-1-0

Season

10: 1-1-4

1st Up

2: 0-0-0

2nd Up

2: 0-0-0

3rd Up

2: 2-0-0

Metro

6: 0-1-0

Non-Metro

11: 4-0-4

Mobile

16: 4-1-4

Standing

1: 0-0-0

All-Weather

16: 4-1-4

Slushy

1: 1-0-0

Grass

1: 0-0-0

Left Handed

11: 4-4

Right Handed

6: 0-1

Favourite

4: 1-0-2

2nd Favourite

2: 2-0-0

Best Mile

1:56.70

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

15: 4-1-2

Driver Last 50

50: 6-7-5

Gear Changes

[Removable Deafeners, Sliding Blinds]

Comments

Hasn't been further back than 4th in last 7 attempts but thin record at venue.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result	Race Review
4th of 10	26/1/26	WaikBoP	2600m	Standing	Grass	Fr1	Todd Mitchell	2:05.9	2:05.9	22.1m	$19	17	R46 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$18,182	$1,091	1. American Me 2. You Little Beauty 3. Double Time	Trld,held up 550,off,ran on wd out
4th of 9	9/1/26	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	Todd Mitchell	1:59.6	1:59.6	3.8m	$9.20	5	R50 to R65 MOB. PACE	$12,921	$818	1. Louezyana 2. Blue Chip Lou 3. You Little Beauty	Left prkd,cvr 1400,off top,bold fin
3rd of 8	4/1/26	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	Emily Johnson	1:58.4	1:58.4	6.2m	$5.60	31	R46 to R53 MOB. PACE	$8,877	$907	1. Claude 2. Ragnar Lothbrok 3. Kings Watch	1x1,3-bk,1x1 1350,wd 350,stout fin
31 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 6	4/12/25	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Todd Mitchell	2:40.8	1:57.6	3.0m	$4.60	29	3YO+ R45 to R50, R51 to R55 with cond. MOB. PACE	$6,509	$4,000	1. Kings Watch 2. Always B Misty 3. Murtle The Turtle	Ld out,allowed terms,held on nicely
3rd of 10	5/11/25	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr8	Blair Orange	1:56.5	1:56.5	15.1m	$16	27	4YO+ R43 to R48, R49 with cond. MOB. PACE INV.D	$13,636	$1,227	1. Mick Konstantin 2. Upstage 3. Kings Watch	9th otr,3-bk,wd cvr 800,trld,chased
3rd of 5	9/10/25	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Todd Mitchell	1:57.7	1:57.7	9.4m	$1.60	14	R41 to R50 MOB. PACE	$6,382	$691	1. Change Tact 2. Messenger Buoy 3. Kings Watch	Lost ld dig,prkd,cvr 700,off,ran on

Village Rebel (10m U1) 67771
Trainer: Nicky Chilcott (Cambridge Raceway)
Driver: Sailesh Abernethy
Prize Money: $114,183
Win / Place: 17% / 36%

7 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: Raging Bull

Dam: Lyn's Delight

Dam's Sire: Bettor's Delight

Rating

Stats

Career

52: 9-4-6

Distance

26: 5-2-2

Trk/Dst

10: 1-0-2

Track

22: 1-2-5

Season

10: 1-1-0

1st Up

5: 0-0-0

2nd Up

5: 0-0-1

3rd Up

4: 0-2-0

Metro

23: 2-2-5

Non-Metro

29: 7-2-1

Mobile

21: 6-1-1

Standing

31: 3-3-5

All-Weather

45: 7-4-6

Slushy

4: 0-0-1

Grass

7: 2-0-0

Left Handed

30: 8-3

Right Handed

22: 1-7

Favourite

7: 4-1-0

2nd Favourite

3: 1-0-0

Best Mile

1:56.65

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

45: 8-4-6

Driver Last 50

50: 2-1-5

Gear Changes

[Sliding Blinds]

Comments

Justified favourtism with tough win from the front at Camb. Seeking 2nd win here

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result	Race Review
1st of 5	4/2/26	WaikBoP	2200m	Standing	All Weather	10m1	Sailesh Abernethy	2:43.4	1:59.5	3.0m	$2.10	9	R47 to R65 DiscrHcp PACE	$6,382	$4,000	1. Village Rebel 2. Shake A Leg 3. Proviseur	Prkd,into ld 1750,dictated,powerful
7th of 10	26/1/26	WaikBoP	2600m	Standing	Grass	10m1	Nicky Chilcott	2:05.9	2:05.9	59.2m	$11	17	R46 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$18,182	$318	1. American Me 2. You Little Beauty 3. Double Time	3rd inr,3-bk,prkd 1950,outfinished
7th of 9	9/1/26	WaikBoP	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr10	Sailesh Abernethy	1:59.6	1:59.6	12.6m	$18	9	R50 to R65 MOB. PACE	$12,921	$239	1. Louezyana 2. Blue Chip Lou 3. You Little Beauty	6th otr,4-bk bell,whacked away gap
7th of 10	31/12/25	Auckland	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	Sailesh Abernethy	1:57.8	1:57.8	7.0m	$20	7	3YO+ R48 to R62 MOB. PACE	$21,932	$398	1. Final Change 2. The Jolly Roger 3. Louezyana	Wd,prkd 1950,hunted up,fght gamely
6th of 10	24/12/25	WaikBoP	2700m	Standing	All Weather	10m3	Sailesh Abernethy	2:01.6	2:01.6	25.8m	$4.20	19	R50 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$21,932	$398	1. Rough And Ready 2. Iron Brigade 3. Claude	Wd,5th otr,1x1,wd,prkd bell,outfin
2nd of 6	5/12/25	Auckland	2700m	Standing	All Weather	Fr3	Sailesh Abernethy	2:02.1	2:02.1	3.5m	$2.90	7	3YO+ R53 & faster DiscrHcp PACE	$20,341	$3,523	1. Beta Prepare 2. Village Rebel 3. Final Change	Gun run mrks,thru lane,stout effort

Sooner The Bettor (30m 1) 04013
Trainer: Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan (Clevedon)
Driver: Harrison Orange (J)
Prize Money: $647,332
Win / Place: 21% / 65%

Form as Favourite

Track Specialist

6 yo Brown Horse

Sire: Bettor's Delight

Dam: Lucky Pocket

Dam's Sire: In The Pocket

100

Rating

Stats

Career

52: 11-15-8

Distance

12: 6-4-0

Trk/Dst

9: 5-3-0

Track

25: 9-7-5

Season

8: 4-0-1

1st Up

5: 4-1-0

2nd Up

5: 2-0-2

3rd Up

5: 2-0-1

Metro

32: 9-10-6

Non-Metro

20: 2-5-2

Mobile

39: 7-14-5

Standing

13: 4-1-3

All-Weather

45: 11-15-8

Slushy

3: 0-2-1

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Left Handed

20: 2-7

Right Handed

25: 9-12

Favourite

10: 6-3-0

2nd Favourite

12: 5-3-1

Best Mile

1:53.50

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

0: 0-0-0

Driver Last 50

0: 0-0-0

Gear Changes

[Removable Deafeners, Blinds]

Comments

Class act of the field but off a stiff mark as a result. Still the one to beat.

Expected Settling Position: Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result	Race Review
3rd of 8	31/12/25	Auckland	3200m	Standing	All Weather	Fr4	Harrison Orange	2:03.4	2:03.4	1.9m	$23	12	3YO+ FFA PACE	$211,364	$20,455	1. Republican Party 2. Akuta 3. Sooner The Bettor	Ld out,trld 2150,thru,closed boldly
1st of 8	19/12/25	Auckland	1609m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	Harrison Orange	1:55.0	1:55.0	4.6m	$1.70	38	4YO+ R55 to R90 MOB. PACE	$40,909	$22,727	1. Sooner The Bettor 2. Mhai Surfer Girl 3. Jolimont	Wd,prkd,into ld 1050,too much class
38 Day Freshen-Up
12th of 15	11/11/25	NZ Metro	3200m	Standing	All Weather	Fr8	Scott Phelan	1:58.0	1:58.0	53.8m	$69	8	FFA PACE	$909,091	$13,636	1. Kingman 2. Leap To Fame 3. Merlin	Prkd,1x1 2400,feeling pinch tn
4th of 11	3/11/25	Kaikoura	2400m	Standing	All Weather	Fr2	Scott Phelan	1:57.2	1:57.2	16.4m	$7.90	17	FFA PACE	$89,318	$4,773	1. Merlin 2. Akuta 3. Mo'unga	Prkd,1x1,prkd,1x1 600,off,steady
14th of 15	17/10/25	NZ Metro	2600m	Standing	All Weather	Fr1	Harrison Orange	1:58.9	1:58.9	35.0m	$12	14	FFA PACE	$57,409	$955	1. Republican Party 2. Don't Stop Dreaming 3. Alta Meteor	Brk,7-8-7bk inr,6bk,off,battld
1st of 8	3/10/25	Auckland	2700m	Standing	All Weather	Fr1	Harrison Orange	3:20.7	1:59.6	1.3m	$5.00	14	DiscrHcp PACE	$33,818	$20,000	1. Sooner The Bettor 2. Merlin 3. Better Knuckle Up	Ld out,trld 1300,thru lane,powerful

Race Review Abbreviations

Brk: Broke, Blkd: Blocked or held up, 1 x 1: One-out, one-back, Prkd: Parked, 3bk otr: 3 back on the outer, 3bk inr: Same as above, but on the inside, trld: Trailed, Gt spd: Showed gate speed, 3wd: 3-wide postd: Caught wide without cover, Held up: Held up, no gaps or few gaps: If they don't see any clear air in the straight, Inr-mid-wd -position: On the inside, mid = 1-off, wd = 3-wide or wider, flew hm wd: Flew home wide, dashd inr: Sprinted well on the inside, Chkd: Checked, Slow: Slow away at the start, Wltd: Wilted or got tired, Fdd: Faded late, Urgd: If the driver is getting stuck in