Racing: Purdon's gem fest

Master trainer produces 18 runners on elite day and has winning chances in six races

Mark Purdon believes the final weapon in his Harness Jewels arsenal is on target again.

Purdon will launch a staggering assault on the $1.5 million meeting at Ashburton tomorrow, with 18 stable representatives and legitimate winning chances in six races.

Luck and manners will play crucial roles in the 3-year-old fillies pace and the 3-year-old trot, while sheer power should be enough to get Auckland Reactor (race seven) and Kotare Mach (eight) home.

But Purdon's training skill and his early driving courage could be the key to what should be the race of the day, the $200,000 3 -year-old male pace.

He has both Highview Tommy and Sleepy Tripp in the race and believes the latter is the horse to beat, even after a rollercoaster last fortnight.

Sleepy Tripp has been the giant improver of this second-season crop, steadily closing the gap on race rival Stunin Cullen, who was awesome in the first half of the season.

But that progress hit a judder bar a fortnight ago as Sleepy Tripp struggled to get over a hard run at Addington.

"He had to sit parked in a top field and ran second two weeks ago and I think it got to the bottom of him a bit," admits Purdon.

"That is why I scratched him last Friday.

"But I took him to Addington for a private workout on Wednesday and I am sure I have got him back to his best.

"He has never been a great trackworker but he worked as good as he can and feels spot on, so I am a lot happier."

That makes Sleepy Tripp the one to beat in a field full of high class, in-form horses.

He comes into barrier seven, from where Purdon will head forward and try to put as many rivals as possible between himself and Stunin Cullen, who has drawn the second line.

"Stunin Cullen will be hard to beat though, especially if he gets an easy run just off the pace, because he has high speed."

While the rumour mill has been in overdrive suggesting champion pacer Auckland Reactor has problems heading into his final race of the season, Purdon is blunt about his chances.

"He is a champion and should win. I think he will lead all the way."

Kotare Mach doesn't have the luxury of a good draw in the juvenile male pace but Purdon is unusually bullish about his chances.

"I think he is a very good 2-year-old, with that stamp of class the really good ones have," he says.

"The draw won't help but I think he is one of the few horses all day good enough to come from out there and still win."

Purdon will have four reps in the 3-year-old trot and says while Pocaro has the most talent, Dream Machine has the all-important manners.

"If Pocaro trots all the way she will win, but she can be funny.

"I think Dream Machine is a bit overlooked and he could be some value."

Purdon rates the highly-consistent Imagine Me the best of his three chances in the fillies pace, even though she takes on all-conquering Lauraella.

"Lauraella is a great filly and she might be too strong for my ones.

"But if Imagine Me gets a nice run she will be finishing on well."


JEWELS DAY- ALL THE BIG NAMES

Where: Ashburton Raceway.

When: Tomorrow, first race 11.25am.

What: Nine races worth a total of $1.5 million.

Who: Best 2, 3 and 4-year-old pacers and trotters in the country, based on NZ stakes for season.

The races: All mobile miles.

The biggest names: Auckland Reactor, Lauraella, Stunin Cullen, Sleepy Tripp, Kiwi Ingenuity, Ima Gold Digger, Kotare Mach, Smiling Shard.

Watch: Trackside from 10am. TV3 2.30 to 3pm.

Something different: National betting syndicate on entire meeting. You can enter at any TAB or online for as little as $10.

Fixed odds: Final fields all available on: tab.co.nz.

Strange fact: Trotter Real Deal Yankee will become the only horse to start at all three Jewels meetings.