As far as modern day rivalries go in harness racing, they do not get much better than that between three-year-olds Got The Chocolates and Marketplace. Today’s match-up at Ashburton in the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton 3yo Showcase was the 18th battle between the two great three-year olds and the ledger is now squared up at nine-all in terms of their individual battles after the win today of Got The Chocolates. In typical fashion the two battled right to the line before the Diamond Racing owned and trained runner eased away over the last 100m showing his usual toughness in recording his 8th career win.
Off the gate the action all came from the outside gates as first Rubira and then favourite Marketplace crossed to the markers. John was able to stay out of the early rush with Got The Chocolates before asking his charge to get more serious from the 600m. As the pace really ramped up from the 400m, the pair quickly drew clear of their rivals, battling tooth and nail to the finish line, before Got The Chocolates achieved ascendancy.
So good since resuming this campaign, today’s win was the 4th from his last five starts for Got The Chocolates who now has his sights set firmly on the Velocity Slot Race for the 3yo’s to be run on Show Day, followed by the New Zealand Derby a week later. If today’s contest was a just a preview to those big events upcoming, it is spine tingling to think that there may be even better to come.