Racing: Blue Army suffers casualty

Only modesty prevents Mark Purdon from telling you he could win four races at Alexandra Park tonight.

The champion trainer unleashes the first wave of the invasion from his blue army at Alexandra Park tonight, with up to 14 horses wearing his blue colours expected to star at the Auckland Cup carnival.

The assault has been slightly blunted even before the first shots were fired, with outstanding three-year-old Born Again Christian scratched with a minor injury yesterday.

"He was a bit sore when we worked him on Wednesday and worse this morning so he had to come out," said Purdon.

"We think we have isolated the problem to a knee and have taken x-rays but we won't get those back until [today] so we won't know exactly what to expect until then."

The injury puts Born Again Christian in doubt for the Great Northern Derby on December 19 and perhaps more importantly the richer Sales Series Pace on December 31.

It also means Purdon will drive Kotare Testament tonight after he had originally booked Tony Herlihy for the drive so he could rein Born Again Christian.

Even without Born Again Christian, Purdon has three of the favourites - Kotare Testament, Lennon and Likemesiah - in tonight's feature race, the Great Northern Stakes, while he will produce hot favourites in two other races in Imagine That (race one) and Vicalo (race four).

And he also has a winning chance with Asabella in race six.

Few trainers are as open with the media as Purdon and he admits he could win four races without being surprised.

"I wouldn't say we should win four races, I never try to talk like that because anything can happen," said Purdon.

"But after having a look at the fields I think I am a good chance of winning at least three, maybe four races.

"After all, a horse like Imagine That gets in well racing against older horses down in the grades.

"I also like Asabella quite a bit in her race and Vicalo, well he would win for fun if he did things right, but he is no good thing to behave himself.

"Tiberius is another we have in Vicalo's race but he will be better for the experience from his wide draw."

All of which is Purdon-speak for: "I can win just about everything I start in tonight but I am not the sort of guy who is going to say that."

Imagine That and Vicalo, who because of his manners is not a great bet regardless of ability, are going to be so short they are probably only useful to big punters or those using them as legs of trebles or an all-up bet.

But the feature of the night is not so cut and dried.

Purdon is adamant Kotare Testament is the best of the four Derby-class three-year-olds in his team but the recent expensive purchase is no certainty tonight.

He has drawn trickily at barrier one on the second line in his 2200m event with the enormous amount of gate speed on the front line playing against him.

Kotare Testament follows out Fake Denario, who is a fast beginner but would struggle to hold out Great Western and more particularly Winforu if their drivers launch them at the start.

So even if Kotare Testament punches through at the start he could end up locked away on the markers.

The other options are for Purdon to try to push away from the markers early or settle last and then make his move.

The latter scenario doesn't sound like a lot of fun as Kotare Testament would have to give some hot opponents a decent start and then travel three wide on his first visit to Alexandra Park to win.

Even for a top horse, which he is, that is not easy.

"I know the draw is tricky but he is still the best of my trio in that race," said Purdon.

With any sort of luck early, like the leaders burning very hard, then Kotare Testament will be the horse to beat but if he does not get the trip to suit then Bubba and Lennon are the most likely benefactors.

Lennon beat Bubba in the Golden Mile here two weeks ago but on that occasion the draw stacked the race in the winner's favour as he was able to lead and Bubba was forced to trail.

Bubba is far better suited by using his stamina at the end of a gutbusting war, which is far more likely to be how tonight's race unfolds.

If he can press toward the lead once the early fireworks have calmed down then he can defeat the southern assault.

Lennon is unbeaten in three starts at Alexandra Park and has a great chance to make it four as he follows Bubba off the gate and indicated with a staggering fourth in the Sires' Stakes Final two starts ago he is still as good as most here.

And while he may not win tonight, keep an eye on High Calibre, who may be charging home late and could be the sneaky for the Great Northern Derby.

First wave

The first night of the Auckland Cup carnival is tonight at Alexandra Park.

Mark Purdon's "Blue Army" has winning chances in four races.

He rates Kotare Testament the best of his favoured trio in the $20,000 Great Northern Stakes.

He did, however, have to scratch outstanding pacer Born Again Christian.