KEY POINTS:
Mark Purdon had some good and some bad racing news this week and both were a little unexpected.
Purdon was disappointed high-class pacer Mighty Cullen had a slight setback heading into tomorrow night's Shepparton Cup in Victoria.
Mighty Cullen tore a shoe off in his paddock and while
it has not cost him any work leading into the A$40,000 ($45,000) race, Purdon will not be surprised if he is just below his game.
"There is nothing wrong with him now but he damaged his hoof a little bit and it might have been bugging him this week," said Purdon.
"He could still come out and win but I wouldn't be surprised if he was a length below his best."
Mighty Cullen is using the race as a lead-up to the Hunter Cup next month, to which tomorrow night's winner gains automatic entry.
He has a 10m handicap but with only three off the front line he could settle close to the pace if he makes his trademark fast beginning.
Tony Herlihy will partner Mighty Cullen, who was fourth in the New Zealand Cup in November, and drive his stable rep Fergiemack in the Victoria Derby heat later in the night.
Neither race will be shown live on the Trackside channel though as they are too late.
While the Mighty Cullen news was unwelcome, Purdon was pleasantly surprised to hear that one of harness racing's strangest inquiries had gone his way.
Purdon trains and drives exciting filly Top Tempo, who finished second to One Dream in last season's Caduceus Club Classic at Alexandra Park in June.
After the race it was ruled that Top Tempo was ineligible for the series and she and fifth placegetter Rhythmic Rose were disqualified.
But the owners of Top Tempo appealed the decision and this week the JCA ruled in their favour.
That means she not only keeps the $14,883 second-placed stake but also the black type for registering her group one placing.
But because Rhythmic Rose's connections did not appeal their filly loses her fifth placing.
"It was a strange one but we are obviously pretty happy with the result," said Purdon.
Top Tempo heads back to the workouts this weekend and is being set for the Sales Series Fillies Pace at Addington next month.
While Purdon and his owners are pleased with the outcome, Harness Racing New Zealand boss Edward Rennell is outraged the case took so long to be decided.
"We are not happy that something like this has taken so many months and we will be asking the JCA to explain why," said Rennell.