Racing: Purdon to help in Dunn deal

Dexter Dunn can't wait to get the most feared colours in harness racing on his back tonight.

The Canterbury teenager treks north to Alexandra Park as he continues his quest for a record-smashing 200 winners in a season tonight, having started last night's Addington meeting on 185.

Being so close to the 200 milestone has inspired Dunn to book flights to the Cambridge meetings for the next two Thursday nights as well at Alexandra Park on July 31.

And he has secured some heavyweight support tonight in champion trainer Mark Purdon, who will provide him with three drives.

"It is always an honour to drive for Mark because he is a great trainer and his horses are so well prepared," said Dunn as he prepared to travel north.

"So to have him give me three drives this week is awesome."

Dunn has been thrilled by the support he has received from other northern trainers, with seven drives tonight. And he says that was behind his decision to confirm himself for the next two Cambridge meetings.

"Being this close to 200 winners I have to have a go at it and the North Island trainers have been great.

"If I make it to the 200 I will owe a lot of people because it is very much a joint effort."

Dunn has little reason to be so humble. After his remarkable season, not many trainers are doing him a favour by putting the most in-form drivers in Australasia on their horses.

In Purdon's case, though, it meant jumping off two horses he could have driven himself - Fight Fire With Fire and Lifeoftheparty - while Dunn will also partner stable newcomer Breath Of Life in the junior driver's race.

Fight Fire With Fire was a comprehensive winner against her own sex last Friday but meets some in-form male opponents in race seven tonight.

She could struggle with Holtere or Will Carter but does have the advantage of a 10m handicapping dispensation under the conditions of the race.

Lifeoftheparty looks ideally placed in race nine and is Dunn's best chance of a win tonight.

He was beaten by a smart trotter in Raydon last Friday but meets nothing as sharp here and will appeal as a Pick6 anchor to many.

Breath Of Life is the enigma of the junior driver's race as she is fresh-up for Purdon but she does have Alexandra Park experience, having raced here for former trainer Ben Waldron.

One race Dunn hasn't been able to secure a drive in is the feature trot, which sees the clash of in-form mares Heyzeal and Calamity Gal.

Calamity Gal has shown open class-like speed in her recent wins but has paid the price, going back to a 20m handicap.

But she could be aided by the large number of unruly horses in the race and the smallish field so can still win.

Heyzeal, winner of four of her 16 starts, will be hard to beat from the front line.

She produced her best run in the north so far with a huge fourth after an early gallop last Friday and looks ideally placed if she can behave herself early.

NORTHERN ASSAULT

* Dexter Dunn will come to Alexandra Park tonight as he chases 200 wins for the season.
* He started last night's Addington meeting on 185.
* He has strong drives tonight, including three from the Mark Purdon stable.
* Dunn will drive at three more northern meetings this month as he chases the milestone.