Racing: Mixed luck of the draw for top trainer

Major chance: Major Mark has drawn perfectly. Photo / Natalie Slade

New Zealand's most powerful racing stable could hardly have fared more differently in the draws for the two huge money races at Addington tomorrow.

The rare Saturday daytime programme has drawn a host of great fields, with the features the $300,000 Sales Series Pace for the juvenile pacing boys and the $150,000 Nevele R Fillies Final.

The all-conquering Mark Purdon stable has a huge hand to play in both races but their task will be much easier in the Sales Series Pace than the fillies' event.

This season's best juvenile pacer Major Mark has drawn perfectly at barrier two in our richest freshman event and Purdon said that should be enough to secure victory.

"I couldn't be happier with that," said Purdon.

"He has been getting better off the gate in recent starts and it isn't that strong a front line.

"So I think he should be able to hold his own early and then press on for the lead."

Purdon was pleased with how Major Mark trialled at Addington recently and said he would be surprised if the colt, the star of a somewhat mediocre crop, was beaten.

Australian visitor Cullen Bromac has looked a star in his homeland and from one on the second line should be handy enough on the markers to be part of the trifecta.

While Purdon has every reason to be confident in the Sales Series feature, he is wondering which official he must have upset after the draw for the Nevele R Fillies final.

"You wouldn't believe you could have five horses in a group one race and they draw the five worst barriers," said Purdon.

"It makes it really hard although we are helped a little by De Lovely drawing one on the second line because she is the one we have to beat."

While the draws make the 1950m event a lottery, Purdon said Lancome had impressed him the most of his outstanding filly band this week.

"She has been working wonderfully and I think I'd go for her as the one to beat," said Purdon.

"She will probably have to go back at the start but with the way premier racing is these days I think they will go hard enough she gets a cart into it."

Purdon rated Northern Oaks winner Secret Potion as another big chance but said early-season star Meredith Maguire might just be feeling the effects of a massive season.

Purdon will need his strength in numbers to repel De Lovely, who has looked a special filly all season and may finally have developed enough strength to complement her speed.

She does, however, face that horror draw and her best chance looks a hot early tempo to break the field open and allow her to get off the markers.

Later on the programme, Purdon declared Russley Rascal as almost a "good thing" for the last race of the card. "He is working very well and should win."