Racing: Purdon back to collect more Alexandra Park booty

Canterbury trainer Mark Purdon has been around long enough to know the best horse doesn't always win, especially in a juvenile sprint race at Alexandra Park.

Which is why he opts for Abide With Me as his stable's top chance in the $30,000 Young Guns Fillies heat at Alexandra Park tonight, even though he believes Collectable may be the better filly.

The pair take on some of the best freshmen fillies from around the country in the prelude to the $100,000 final on this track on March 12.

After her debut win against older pacers last Friday night, Purdon was moved to rate Collectable the best filly in his all-conquering stable.

However, a tricky second-line draw for her and key rival Miss Elsie sees Purdon suggesting Abide With Me can down them both in the first leg of the $50,000 Pick6.

"I think after the way she won last Friday, Collectable is the best filly I have in the barn, but a second-line draw over 1700m makes it very tough," said Purdon. "Whereas Abide With Me has gate speed and could go forward and try and lead so I will go for her as our best chance of the pair this week.

"But if, by some fluke, they did the same amount of work and got the same run, then Collectable would be the top pick."

The pair could both have a battle on their hooves with Miss Elsie, a rare juvenile starter from the Colin and Julie De Filippi's stable who was super impressive beating the colts on debut at Invercargill last month.

The fillies are just two members of another powerful team Purdon will line up tonight as he and training partner Grant Payne look to extend their lead on the Alexandra Park trainer's premiership.

He expects to start the night well with Imagine Me (race one), but goes for Secret Potion (race four) and Pocaro (race six) as the best hopes.

"The way Imagine Me is working I wouldn't be scared of too many in the first race, even though there are some nice 3-year-olds there.

"And Secret Potion probably should win. De Lovely is a very good filly but we get a start from her and she will need to do something special to come wide and beat our filly."

Pocaro drops back from a last-start second in the Flying Stakes at Cambridge to starting off the front in tonight's four-win trot and looks beautifully placed.

The other highlight of tonight's programme is Tintin In America taking his next step toward the Trillian Trust Auckland Cup in a fortnight when he takes on Tennis Ball and Raglan in the feature handicap.