Racing: Step right up Cool Hand Luke, pacing's king-in-waiting

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Mark Purdon thinks he has got the answer to pacing's most interesting question.

And the answer is Cool Hand Luke.

New Zealand's leading trainer, like many others in harness racing, is wondering who the heir to pacing's throne is.

Our three leading pacers are all northerners - Yulestar, Holmes D G and Agua Caliente - with a gap to the likes of Auckland Cup winner Flight South, Interdom heat winner Pocket Me and promising types Classic Turbo and Pic Me Pockets.

You can throw classy mares Kym's Girl and Chloe Hanover into that mix but after that not many realistic threats to the big three stand out.

Yet those big three aren't getting any younger. While Yulestar and Holmes D G are only seven-year-olds, they probably only have this season left at the top of the tree before a young gun emerges to take their place. And Agua Caliente, for all his incredible talent, only plays a cameo role at major carnivals these days.

And Purdon wants that young gun to be Cool Hand Luke.

The muscular five-year-old starts his New Zealand Cup campaign at Addington on Friday night needing one more win to qualify for the great race.

While Purdon wants him to make the New Zealand Cup field he also has longer term plans.

"There is no doubting Yulestar, Holmes D G and Agua Caliente are the best, but they can't keep racing at their peak forever.

"One of these young horses has to step up and take them on and I think Cool Hand Luke can do that.

"I am not saying we are going to beat them in the New Zealand Cup but as this season progresses I can see a horse like this being very competitive with them and being ready to take over when they start to slow down."

High-profile sales in the last year of Mac De Stroyer, Ouch and Black Cam have left harness racing with few genuine contenders for the King Of Pacing title once Yulestar steps down from the throne in the next 12-18 months.

And while the North Island is blessed with a select but star-studded open class crop, the South Island open class stocks are anorexic.

Pocket Me's immediate future is still under a cloud until a court case to sort out a sale dispute is held next month while his veteran stablemate Happy Asset is not as sharp as he used to be.

With other one-time contenders like The Tough Nut showing physical or mental frailties at the highest level, Makati Galahad has emerged from Southland obscurity to be South Island's pacing new pin-up boy.

"I think Makati Galahad is the one we have to beat down here because he has plenty of bottom to him," said Purdon.

"To be honest though it looks like the ranks down here aren't as good as they in Auckland which could play right in our hands.

"We need to get a win to get into the New Zealand Cup and I think we have a pretty good chance of doing that in the new few weeks."

Cool Hand Luke warmed up for Friday night's $12,000 mobile over 1950m with an easy win over 2600m at the Rangiora trials last Saturday.

"He didn't beat much but he was a bit off colour just before the trial so I think he will be a better horse this week.

"He will be hard to beat because he has improved from last season. He is very strong and has that touch of quality about him so he is ready to become an open class force."

Purdon started his first full season as a Cantabrian with a win behind Sheezadoosie at Addington last Thursday night and is ready to unleash his stable stars at next week's first premier meeting of the season.

Included among those will be trotter Waihemo Hanger, who is thriving in Canterbury but not all Purdon's elite will be staying in the South Island.

He is considering an Alexandra Park campaign in October, particularly with NZ Derby winner Young Rufus who could be aimed at a new $20,000 four-year-old race which will precede the $30,000 Kumeu Stakes in late October.

And age group trotting champion Dependable could be heading even further from home as Purdon aims him at the rescheduled Dullard Cup-Collins Memorial double at Moonee Valley in December.

"Dependable is training really well and I think those two races, being mobiles, could be ideal for him. But I won't be taking on the best trotters in the Dominion at this stage."

"I have some good horses in the stable at the moment and lots of good races to aim them at so I am looking forward to the new season."