Champion NZ harness racing trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen are unlikely to have a starter in the A$200,000 Victoria Cup on October 14, despite running first and third in the New Brighton Cup at Addington yesterday.
The All Stars stable again starred with their return to NZ feature racing with 2015 Auckland Cup and 2016 Miracle Mile winner Have Faith In Me having the last say from a handy spot on the outer, to defeat front-running ex-stablemate Titan Banner and last year's Auckland Cup winner Dream About Me.
The stable, which also has last year's New Zealand Cup winner Lazarus set to return soon, is completely focused on the $800,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 14.
"I'm a bit hesitant to look at the Victoria Cup," said co-trainer Mark Purdon. "The NZ Cup is our main focus. If we go over there its just one race. They could get a bug or something else could go wrong and I wouldn't want to undo their preparations for the NZ Cup."