Scoundrel has sensational Sires' Stakes win at Addington

By Michael Guerin

To say Brendon Hill was a touch surprised by what Scoundrel did at Addington on Friday night is an understatement. 

Because the shock Sires’ Stakes heat win by the juvenile giant had Hill questioning his rivals and re-thinking his own plans.

On a night of big age group performances Scoundrel, driven by Hill’s son Seth, was the colt sensation.

He covered more ground than some of our star juveniles like Tour Party, Chiggsy and Coal Fire and ran away from them at the top of the Addington straight.

“I was stunned he could do that, surely there was something wrong with some of those other good horses the way he ran past them?” questioned Hill without an hint of disrespect.

“We have always ready liked this horse and were thrilled with his first two runs but to be honest I was thinking of tipping him out after this race because he is so big and I thought a spell might be the best thing for him.”

But not now, with Scoundrel in the $200,000 Sires’ Stakes Final and into $6 third favouritism behind Faith No Fear and Lucky Luka.

Those he ran past did have some excuse as the two favourites burned very hard early but Scoundrel still covered more ground and bolted in so now the Hills, father and son, have two proper horses on their hands.

“To have him and Cath racing so well and being aimed at Group 1 is pretty exciting and to be doing it with Seth driving them makes it even more special.”

Scoundrel isn’t eligible for next Friday’s NZBS Harness Million as he was home bred by Kevin Chapman and then offered to Hill privately as a young horse, not going to the yearling sales.

“We got some good owners into him and fair to say they have a good horse on their hands now,” says Hill.

It was a night of big and bold performances as Indulge Me showed great gate speed and then heart to hold out Cherish Me in their Nevele R Fillies heat, the runner-up doing herself no favours in the last 100m, with Miki’s Deal catching the eye running into third ahead of Cath.

Earlier in the night it was a juvenile filly who had to burn at both ends of her race to win as I’m The Boss lived up to her name to win her Dunstan Sires’ Stakes heat in real style.

She is bred to be good by Bettor's Delight out of seven-race winner Hopes And Dreams, herself a daughter of the great juvenile One Dream.
 
I’m The Boss gives Hayden and Amanda Cullen yet another exciting juvenile to look forward to the rest of 2026 with but rival trainer Bronson Munro would have also left Addington satisfied after he trained Jorja and Validation to run the placings and earn their way into the Sires’ Stakes Final.

I’m The Boss now sits alongside northern filly Belle Biddy as the $4 equal favourite for that Final on Show Day.