KEY POINTS:
Having a horse choke down in a group one race doesn't usually have many positives.
But Mark Purdon has found one with Top Tempo.
The outstanding filly finished a rugby field away from Changeover in the New Zealand Derby last start after choking at the 1000m mark.
Yet
Purdon isn't letting that worry him going into tonight's clash with New Zealand's other champion three-year-old, One Dream, in the Pascoes Northern Oaks.
"Most horses would have hit the ground if they choked down like her," says Purdon.
"Instead she wobbled for a few strides and then composed herself and managed to get around. She really is a fighter."
The incident was hardly the ideal lead-up to tonight's classic, but Purdon says Top Tempo took no harm from it or the trip north.
"Everything is fine and I was really looking forward to this race. But the draw has really worked against us."
Purdon was one of the few trainers in the country who thought he had the horsepower to test, or even beat, One Dream, but after drawing the outside of the second line he thinks tonight's race may be too tough.
"If we drew a lot better than her and had an advantage, then I think she could maybe beat her. But she will probably do less work than us and that will make her very, very hard to get past."
That doesn't mean Purdon will drive away from Alexandra Park without a winner tonight. His exciting four-year-old, Galleons Assassin, is a serious chance in the main trot.
He showed dazzling speed to outsprint arch-rival Houdini Star at Addington last Saturday and gets a 20m head start over One Over Kenny and Pompallir tonight.
"It is a big step up in class but I think he can take it.
"He is at his best when coming with one run and if he can sit close to the pace then I think he will test them."
That race is shaping as one of the highlights of the evening, with Pompallier back to his best form, One Over Kenny having beaten the best in Australia this season and home track specialist Our Sunny Whiz back to a more realistic place in the handicaps.
* While Purdon's main focus will be at Alexandra Park tonight he will have plenty of reason to be watching out for the $100,000 Welcome Stakes at Addington.
He has three chances in the race - Ohoka Arizona, Steve McQueen and Fiery Falcon - and believes the latter will be his best.
"He has the best of the draws and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get the front," said Purdon.
"So he will take plenty of beating."
He also believes Ohoka Arizona and Steve McQueen will improve from their defeats by Mattnamara's Band at Addington last Saturday.
"Steve McQueen simply did too well after his Auckland trip and will be a better horse tonight."
Mattnamara's Band looms at the horse for Purdon's trip to beat after two enormous wins in his last two starts.