Racing: Gloves come off in fight for title, good name

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Mark Purdon is getting ready to fight back - on and off the race track.

The country's top harness racing trainer has had the winter from hell, battling to maintain his lead on the national premiership and preparing to clear his name from drug charges relating to the Blue Magic controversy.

Purdon has been charged with the administration of the drug propantheline bromide, nicknamed Blue Magic, to Light And Sound before the pacer raced at Addington on March 26, although the pacer did not return a positive swab.

Harness Racing New Zealand confirmed to the Herald yesterday they are seeking a hearing date between July 25-27 for Purdon, fellow trainer Nigel McGrath and two of McGrath's employees, all relating to propantheline bromide administration.

The charges come after a lengthy inquiry which created a media storm when the police were involved in raids on Purdon and McGrath's stables.

Purdon has been advised by his lawyers not to comment but he is obviously going to defend the charge, as his lawyers have asked HRNZ's lawyers for full disclosure.

Because of the unusual nature of the charge - and no positive swab for Light And Sound - it would not be a surprise if the JCA hearing is delayed.

While Purdon has to leave that fight to the lawyers he is mounting a defence of his own on the racetrack.

He shares the lead with the David and Catherine Butt partnership at the head of the trainers' premiership, and now his troubles have cemented his desire to win the title.

In recent seasons the premiership has meant little to Purdon as he has reduced his stable numbers to concentrate on the big money races on both sides of the Tasman.

But this season, when he has been under attack, a premiership title is a much-needed morale boost, not to mention a pleasant competitive distraction.

"I would like to win the premiership now," he says.

He doesn't need to say why, the resolve in his voice tells the story.

The only problem is Purdon does not usually race many horses in the poorer winter races, preferring to spend that time working on his young equine talent and overseeing the early preparation of open class superstars like Jack Cade and Young Rufus.

So training's biggest gun finds himself without much ammunition.

Purdon reloaded this week though, with stable clients buying maiden pacers Beach Ball and The Piano Man, who he hopes can win at least one race each before the season ends on July 31.

"I haven't really got a lot of horses racing but we will be doing the best with what we have," he explains.

"I also have Millwood Touche coming down from the North Island and she should be able to pick up a race or two.

"It will be close but we won't be going down without a fight."

While Purdon is fighting for the premiership and his reputation, he is far more relaxed about the struggle to get his stable star back on the track.

Jack Cade is pleasing him in trackwork after returning from yet another injury.

"His legs look fine at this early stage and he looks great physically.

"He has a long way to go but I will not hurry him and I don't really care if he even starts in the New Zealand Cup because his major aim will be the Interdominions at Alexandra Park.

"So unless things go perfectly I'd say he might be aimed at the free-for-all at the New Zealand Cup meeting and we will take it from there."

Young Rufus is far more advanced in his comeback from retirement and should be racing in August, hoping to make the most of any early season crumbs before he has to take on younger heroes Elsu and Just An Excuse.

Purdon is also happy with exciting three-year-olds Lennon and Born Again Christian, who missed the second half of the three-year-old season with injuries.

"Lennon looks great and had a good spell so if he comes up really well he might even head to the Breeders Crown in Victoria in August.

"But if he takes a little longer than that he will join Born Again Christian in the Superstars Championship in early October."

By then, regardless of how long Purdon's hearing is delayed or drags on, his fate will be known.

One way or the other the New Zealand racing landscape will be changed forever.