By MICHAEL GUERIN
Young Rufus is no longer just a horse to trainer Mark Purdon.
He has become a personal mission.
The champion pacer returned to Purdon's stables yesterday, a week after nearly dying from a twisted bowel which ruled him out of the Interdominions.
Young Rufus will be kept under careful watch for
the next month, when the last of the 60 staples used to close the 80cm surgical incision in his stomach will be removed.
By then he is expected to be eating normally and will spend two months in a lush paddock.
Now Purdon has got his champ back, he has set his sights on winning back his throne as the King of Pacing.
"I can't see any reason he won't make it back to the track," said Purdon.
"Once he starts eating normally and has a spell there is no reason why what happened last week should affect him."
Purdon says Young Rufus deserves to have the chance to return to the track.
"He is a great horse and he might still have some big wins in him which would set him up for his stud career.
"He is a real racehorse and horses like him love to race.
"We all know how tough he is so I am sure what he has been through will not have any long-term mental effects on him."
And Purdon has an obvious aim with Young Rufus.
"I'd love to win the New Zealand Cup with him. It is our best race and he was unlucky in it this season.
"With the timing of his surgery and recovery he could be ready for the new season.
"For him to win the cup, or any major race, after what happened would be the proudest moment of my career.
"It is not about money for me or his owners, it is about giving Rufus the chance to be a champion again."
