Racing: Master trainer goes for double glory

Adore Me paced a world record 3200m winning the NZ Cup in November. Photo / Getty Images

Our champion trainer Mark Purdon is hoping he got vastly different equations right with Adore Me and Follow The Stars as they chase group one glory at Melton tonight.

Both are favourites in their big money features, Adore Me as short as $2.20 in the A$400,000 ($422,000) Hunter Cup while Follow The Stars is odds-on for the A$200,000 Victoria Derby even after a rare defeat last week.

The master trainer has spent the week with just the two glamour pacers, a result which usually sees them honed to perfection as Purdon works his big race magic.

But they will have had very different weeks as Adore Me recovers from a rugged third in the Victoria Cup and Follow The Stars copped more work after only his second loss in 14 starts.

"Adore Me is as good as gold, even though she had the hardest run in the race last week," says Purdon.

"She handles that sort of thing really well and she hasn't missed a trick.

"So she should go as good as last week, maybe even better because the distance will suit her better."

But Purdon has piled the work into Follow The Stars after he thought the colt was too pretty going into his Derby heat, in which he was a luckless second to Art Union.

His pre-race concerns about Follow The Stars were behind Purdon's conservative drive but he realises he will need a fitter horse so he can attack early from barrier six tonight.

"He has needed the work and to be honest I'd even like another week before the Derby," admits Purdon.

"But he will definitely be fitter than last week and if he can lead I think he can win."

That still leaves Purdon walking a knife edge because he has drawn alongside talented local Menin Gate, who driver Chris Alford would also like to lead.

Follow The Stars probably has more raw speed and if he wins the early battle the Derby is his to lose, but if they go crazy inside the first 600m it sets the race up for swoopers like Art Union and even Ideal For Real.

Still, with even breaks Follow The Stars is the best horse in the Derby and should win.

Adore Me has claims to being the greatest stayer in the Hunter, even though it includes three time New Zealand Cup winner Terror To Love and Aussie hardman Guaranteed.

Adore Me paced a world record 3200m winning the NZ Cup in November and Purdon admits she could be better now.

"I thought that before her win in the Mile at Cambridge last month and her run last week was phenomenal.

"She is so tough and she is ready to win but the start will be crucial because she can miss away.

"If she begins well, and better than Christen Me, we would look to lead and stay there.

"But I think they will probably look to do the same with Christen Me, too.

"I am sure there will be more pressure than last Saturday but it will still be a hard race for anything coming wide.

"So ideally a fast beginning and getting to the markers would suit us."

That means the early scramble to the first bend before one of the favourites can balance up and try for the lead could decide who gets the best run in the race, with Christen Me still probably deserving of at least equal favouritism.

Both Guaranteed and particularly Terror To Love are good enough to win but the concern for the latter is he only had a soft run last Saturday, his first start in seven weeks, so his top end fitness could be tested.

Also tonight Kiwi trotters Sheemon and Realmein have winning chances in the Trotting Champs while Stent is red hot in the Melton Trotting Cup after the scratching of arch rival Keystone Del.

Hunter Cup night
Where: Melton, Victoria.
When: First race at 8pm NZ time tonight.
Highlights: A$400,000 Hunter Cup, A$200,000 Victoria Derby, A$50,505 Australasian Trot Champs, A$20,505 Melton Trot Cup.
Kiwi stars: Christen Me, Adore Me, Terror To Love, Stent, Sheemon, Follow The Stars, Art Union, Bit Of A Legend.