Racing: In need of Southern comfort

Mark Purdon is hoping one of his rivals can help Imagine That down Auckland Cup winner Mi Muchacho at Addington tonight.

Mi Muchacho returns to the scene of the worst performance of his great career tonight when he tackles the $40,000 Paul Renwick Free-For-All.

The last time Mi Muchacho was at Addington he galloped in the straight in the New Zealand Cup, capping a horror campaign in which he didn't handle the Addington track surface.

Since then he has returned home to post a remarkable Auckland Cup victory, with trainer Richard Anderson putting his amazing turnaround down to equine chiropractors who have helped rid him of years of pain.

If the Mi Muchacho who turned up for Auckland Cup night appears at Addington tonight he should be too good again but champion trainer-driver Purdon is one not conceding the race to the favourite.

Purdon has both Imagine That and Millwood Touche in the race and is adamant the former can down Mi Muchacho.

"I thought my mare went as good as him in the Auckland Cup," said Purdon.

"We lost a lot of ground at the start and wasn't that far from them at the finish so I am not overly worried by him.

"And there has to be that question mark over how he will handle the travel and the track after how he raced here in November."

More important than those factors could be that the draws will almost guarantee Mi Muchacho will have to cover more ground than Imagine That.

While the grey has drawn barrier eight in the 2600m mobile, Imagine That could be in the best position in the race, drawn behind possible leader Onedin Legacy.

Onedin Legacy's driver Henderson Hunter rarely hands up so it would not surprise to see him try for an all the way win tonight.

"I hope he does because sitting in the trail behind him would be ideal," said Purdon.

"Onedin Legacy is a good, tough horse and I'd love to see him stay in front because not only would that help us it would make it harder for any of the other horses who like to race to race handy. I think if that happens we can definitely win."

Purdon says Imagine That has improved since her easy win in a weakish mares' race at Addington last Friday and should be at decent each way odds if punters rally behind Mi Muchacho.

While the favourite has question marks over him he is undoubtedly the best horse in the race and one of the few genuine superstars in New Zealand pacing at present.

The 2600m will suit him perfectly and in a field of this quality he should be able to easily find the position outside the leader if driver Peter Ferguson goes looking for it at any stage.

If he can roll to the front then the race should be over.

The blowout horse could be Baileys Dream, who hasn't won a race for a long time but has had his share of bad luck over the summer.

He missed away from the standing start last start and made good ground before being checked in the home straight and his earlier eighth in the Auckland Cup was very solid.

The mobile will suit him and if the favourites don't get things their own way he can surprise.

While Purdon rates Imagine That a huge winning chance he suggests punters should stick with a maiden as his best chance of the night.

Affairs Of State was an expensive failure on her northern campaign last month but has thrived since returning to Purdon's stables.

She contests a 2000m standing start race tonight and from barrier three looks almost a Pick6 anchor.

"She has been good from a stand at the trials so I don't think that will bother her," said Purdon.

"And she has been back to her old self around the stables so I think you will see a far bigger improvement."

Purdon also expects improvement from Carlos, the talented juvenile who cost one fixed odds punter $14,000 when beaten in both his Alexandra Park starts last month.

Carlos takes on Mombassa in the $50,000 PGG Wrightson Sales Graduate which starts the night and his season is on the line.

"I think he is better than he was in Auckland but unless I see real proof of that on the track tonight he might be heading to the spelling paddock."

As for Purdon's absolute best winning chance of the night, well the bad news is punters can't back that.

He has last Friday's impressive New Zealand Trotting Derby winner Galleons Assassin in the $50,000 PGG Wrightson Sales Trot and he looks the winner from barrier two in the non-tote race.