Racing: Mark my words on Jewels Day

Major mark has been the best of the juvenile crop this season. Photo / Natalie Slade

Champion trainer Mark Purdon says the gloves will come off superstar juvenile Major Mark at the Jewels today.

The colt has been the best of the juvenile crop this season but his Achilles heel - his lack of gate speed and early manners - has been painfully obvious.

All season Purdon has tried to nurse him into his races early but from barrier one today he won't get that option from the Cambridge mile start point, knowing if he gets crossed his race could be over.

So Purdon is going into the race with one mindset.

"I want him to lead and I will be doing my best to get him off the gate as quickly as possible," said Purdon.

"I haven't done anything different with him in training this week because he is a horse who can get a bit fired up but he is well in himself and I think he can win.

"But the start will be crucial."

That last sentence sums up Jewels days on a track where those going back at the start will finish closer to last than first.

"I got back with a couple of mine when the Jewels were last here two years ago and we never got into the race," says Purdon. "So I can see a lot of drivers being aggressive and I think it will be great racing."

Purdon and training partner Grant Payne will unleash one of the strongest group one assaults in New Zealand racing history today, with 17 representatives.

So here is how he rates his chances on harness racing's glamour day:

Race one: Imagine Me (13): "It is a shame she got this draw because she is racing better than ever. I just hope they go hard."

Race two: Kylie Ree (3): "She will be better than when she won at Addington last start and I was happy with her trial at Cambridge last Saturday.

"She will be hard to beat and I'd be happy to stay in front on her."

Race three: Collectable (1): "I don't think she is racing as well as she was but I'll be trying to lead from the ace."

Highview Ebony (9): "She is working really well and while a couple of these are better than her she can get some of it."

Minnie Moose (5): "Would be a place chance at best."

Race four: Emma Hamilton (1): "Some of these are better than her but I am hoping she can trail Miami H and that gives her a good place chance."

Race five: Lancome (2): "She is the best of our chances. She likes Cambridge and has a good each-way chance."

Secret Potion (4): "She worked well with the other two on Thursday morning and will be another chance but might have to do a bit of work."

Meredith Maguire (11): "She has had a wonderful season and follows out a fast beginner so I rate her a good chance, but it won't be easy to beat De Lovely."

Race six: I Can Doosit (10): "Another one who has raced great all season and a lot depends on what happens with Ima Gold Digger at the start.

"If he gets the lead easily enough we might struggle to beat him but my horse is a very good stayer and he can win."

Race seven: Major Mark (1): "I've got to try and lead and if he does that then he is the one to beat. He is well and I think he can hold them at the start."

Le Sol (13): "I've let his hopples out a bit and he is actually working really well. But it won't be an easy race to come from back in the field in."

Ohoka Bondy (10): "I think his best chance would be to sneak on to the markers and see if he can run in four."

Race eight: Highview Tommy (1): "From this draw I would be happy enough to see him lead, even if that means Tintin In America gets the trail.

"He is working well now so I'd rather not see him unlucky and I think he has the gate speed to hold them at the start."

Sleepy Tripp (12): "He is also working well and was very good in the Taylor Mile.

"He follows Romulus so might get a good run through.

"I think they will go very hard early here, which would suit us."

Race nine: Russley Rascal (1): "He is at his peak and I think he is the best of the 3-year-olds.

"I think he will hold the lead and that makes him the one to beat. He is our best chance of the day."

Kotare Mach (8): "Not a good draw and with all that gate speed inside him I might have to go back at the start.

"So he will need some luck to win, even though he is racing well."

PURDON'S BEST
* Russley Rascal (R9)
* Kylie Ree (R2)
* Major Mark (R7)