Racing: Aussie taunt fires up Purdon

The Interdominion Trotting Championship field line up behind the mobile at Alexandra Park last night. Photo / Natalie Slade

A carnival of disasters and an Aussie taunt inspired Mark Purdon to Interdominion glory with I Can Doosit in the $250,000 Trotting Final at Alexandra Park last night.

New Zealand's greatest trainer drove the perfect race to get I Can Doosit home over the top of red hot Australian favourite Let Me Thru in the classic, with South Island trotter Stylish Monarch third.

While Purdon is used to winning Interdominion finals and rarely shows racetrack emotion, he flourished his whip as he hit the line for the neck victory.

Partly because he still had the words of Let Me Thru's driver Chris Lang junior ringing in his ears.

"When we were getting our photo taken before the race he told me he hoped I could run a good second to him," said Purdon.

"I thought that was pretty cocky so it made it even more satisfying to get up and beat him.

"I know it was meant in good jest but it definitely made a point to me."

The win was even more satisfying for Purdon though as this Interdominion carnival had lurched from bad to worse.

It started two weeks ago when his best ever pacer Auckland Reactor had to be scratched from the carnival because of illness.

And then just yesterday morning his contender for last night's $800,000 Pacing Final, Sleepy Tripp, had to be pulled out that race.

"He was a bit sore and we couldn't start him like that," said Purdon.

While used to the extreme highs and lows of racing, Purdon admits losing two outstanding pacers out of that series had him second guessing.

"Like everybody I get a bit down when things don't go your way but this makes up for everything.

"I've been lucky enough to train and drive Interdominion winners before but they are hard to come by so this is very special."

It took all of Purdon's legendary skill to have I Can Doosit right for last night's race as he failed on a recent Australian campaign and was then sent home to Canterbury to prepare for the series, which was originally to be at Addington.

When it was transferred to Auckland because of the earthquake, I Can Doosit had to come back north and went into the series with no lead-up racing.

"That is why he needed the heat racing to get him back to his best but he is a very good horse and will be even better next year."

The win was appropriate as I Can Doosit is owned by Auckland couple Ken and Karen Breckon, who have been two of the biggest investors in harness racing in the last decade, with Ken being a former vice-president of the Auckland Trotting Club.

Ken was a racing novice 15 years ago but bought his first horse after reading a yearling sales preview in the Herald.

Beaten Australian star Let Me Thru was tough in second after being attacked in the lead over the last lap by Springbank Richard, who pulled too hard, while Stylish Monarch was brave in third.

Earlier in the night Annicka became the first Swedish-trained horse to win a race in the Southern Hemisphere when she won the Trotting Consolation to the delight of a huge visiting contingent.

$250,000 final

1: I Can Doosit, Mark Purdon.

2: Let Me Thru, Chris Lang jun.

3: Stylish Monarch, Ricky May.