“But as people have seen over the last few years, Natalie [Rasmussen, partner] and I have taken more time away from the business, which last time was to travel.
“I am fully involved back in the business now, but Nathan and I have also discussed the future, and because I want to spend some more time working on the gallopers or even away from horses in the off-season, Nathan and his partner Mikayla [Lewis] officially take over running the All Stars business from April 1.
“That is the start of the new financial year and means the business and things like employment contracts can pass to them but I will still very much be part of the actual training.”
Purdon, 58, says that change means Nathan and Mikayla will be in charge of the day-to-day running of the business side of the stable, but with Mark as senior training partner, but with the freedom to spend time doing other things, the most obvious being moving into training thoroughbreds.
While he harbours no delusions of challenging Mark Walker or Andrew Forsman any time soon, Purdon says his increased interest in the thoroughbred code has come about for several reasons.
“I think harness racing is facing real challenges, and while I still enjoy it, I also want to investigate what my future, and that of the boys [Nathan and his other son Michael], may look like,” explains Purdon.
“I really enjoy watching the good gallops meetings and want to be more involved, so I bought three yearlings at Karaka and also have a two-year-old that I will train later this season when I get through the major harness races.
“I have applied for my gallops training licence, so hopefully they approve it soon.”
Canterbury trainer Danny Frye will break in Purdon’s horses and even do some pre-training if needed but eventually Purdon hopes to be able to do slow work at the All Stars property where he has treadmills and a straight track, while fast work will be conducted at Riccarton.
“That is obviously a long way off but I’ve had chats with Samantha Wynne [top Canterbury jockey] about doing some track work riding for me so I’m putting plans together.
“It’s exciting, the prospect of taking on a new challenge, but I am not underestimating all the stuff I still have to learn.”
Having achieved everything possible in harness racing in this part of the world, with a record that leaves no room for argument he is the greatest harness racing trainer ever in Australasia, Purdon is re-evaluating his entire future.
“I am still very motivated and want the best for our owners and horses and I will still be driving a lot but eventually I would like to slow down on that front and we are already talking to Blair Orange about doing more of our driving.
“But a lot of this is planning for the future, whether that is the near future or further down the track.
“I have run a big business for a very long time, and if I want to make changes, there have to be plans in place.”
While Purdon’s future could be dual-code for the next few months, it will be about trying to dominate the rich races coming up at Cambridge, and Alexandra Park when the flood-damaged surface is repaired.
The father-and-son team have the unbeaten Millwood Nike as a red-hot favourite in her $150,000 Harness Million on Friday, while they have a trio of three-year-olds taking on the northerners in the $200,000 male pacing final.
“Most of them trailed at Pukekohe on the weekend and were good, and while Merlin is the one to beat in the boys’ race, the draws have evened things up.”
Stable stars Self Assured and Akuta are also in the north and will start racing in two weeks as they build toward the $1 million The Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 14.
HARNESS MILLION
What: Harness racing’s sales series three-year-old races for horses sold at the NZBS yearling sales.
Where: Cambridge, transferred from Alexandra Park.
When: Friday, first race 5.50pm
Highlights: $200,000 Harness Million 3-y-o male pace, $150,000 Harness Million 3-y-o filly pace; $27,000 Northern Breeders Trot; first two-year-old pace of the new season.
