Racing: Purdon gets to work on former star

Mark Purdon hopes Auckland Reactor can regain his best form on way to Auckland Cup. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Mark Purdon has devised a master plan for Auckland Reactor - he is going to pretend the last year of the great pacer's career didn't happen.

Purdon has the one-time wonder horse back in work after a disastrous past 13 months which has seen him go from being rated one of our greatest-ever pacers to a joke in the Northern Hemisphere and then a stalled stallion career.

Just last November, Auckland Reactor thrashed his rivals on New Zealand Cup Day but what followed was nothing short of a nightmare for his owners.

He was beaten when attacked in the New Zealand Free-For-All, raced like he had concrete shoes in the Miracle Mile and then embarked on a United States campaign that was nothing short of pathetic.

He returned home to moderate interest as a stallion and after a partial change of ownership he is now back being tried as a racehorse.

He connections are hoping throat surgery and a return to Purdon will help him return to his best in time for the Auckland Cup and Interdominions in March and April.

And Purdon says that is not impossible.

"If it was the throat that was troubling him all along then maybe the operation will clear that up," said Purdon.

"Either way it is great to have him back and I have to forget about what has happened and just train him like I did in the past.

"That is the only option I really have and if he comes back to his best, great."

Purdon says the early signs are good for a return to something like Auckland Reactor's dominant form.

"He looks the same and his behaviour and attitude around the place are the same," he enthuses.

"Whether his throat is all right we won't really know until it goes under raceday pressure, or at least till he trials."

That is planned for early February, with Purdon hoping that will provide a springboard to racing in late February.

"If he can do that and everything is fine then the aim will be the Auckland Cup and the Interdominions."

While such aims could sound fanciful for a horse who couldn't beat Granny to the mailbox in the United States, such a comeback is not unprecedented in New Zealand harness racing in recent years.

Champion trotter Lyell Creek returned from an admittedly successful career in North America looking to be retired but was able to be weaned off anti-bleeding drug Lasix and went on to win the Dominion Handicap and Rowe Cup again.

But he was renowned for his mental and physical toughness, while doubts still remain over those aspects of Auckland Reactor's make-up.

Still, his frailties might have been caused by his throat problems and it is too early to doubt Purdon's enthusiasm.

The training legend had group one goals a little closer foremost in his mind yesterday, as Sleepy Tripp and I Can Doosit trialled at Alexandra Park.

Sleepy Tripp looked sharp winning the main trial, beating among others last season's champion filly De Lovely, who was being seen out in public for the first time this season.

"He was good and will race here [Alexandra Park] next Friday as his lead up to the Victoria Cup the following week," said Purdon.

I Can Doosit will follow the same path, racing next Friday before heading to Victoria for a one-race raid the following Friday.

COMEBACK

* Auckland Reactor's comeback is progressing well.
* Trainer Mark Purdon says the one-time pacing great looks and acts the same as always.
* He could race in the Auckland Cup in March.
* Purdon's star pair of Sleepy Tripp and I Can Doosit trial well at Alexandra Park.