Racing: Western Dream could spoil Purdon's night

Barry Purdon was thrilled with Blackbird Fly's workout win last week, until he made the mistake of watching another heat.

That was when Purdon spied the horse Blackbird Fly will meet in tonight's Ladyship Stakes, Western Dream, who reminded him what he was up against.

"I was rapt with my filly last week but I was also very impressed with Western Dream," said Purdon of the Alexandra Park workouts 10 days ago.

Blackbird Fly easily beat stablemate Salalah in a lower grade heat at those workouts, proving to Purdon she has trained on well since two outstanding wins from as many starts in his colours.

But another workout last Tuesday confirmed what Purdon and every other trainer in the country suspected - the road to three-year-old fillies' riches leads through Western Dream.

She finished only second in her heat but was up against older, classier opposition and still caught the eye.

"She [Western Dream] really impressed me and I have no doubts she will be the one to beat this week," admitted Purdon.

"I think a lot of Blackbird Fly but she is going to need to be every bit as good as I think she is to beat the other filly.

"Add in fillies like Alinghi and it should be a great race."

The $65,000 event is the first group race of a huge month at Alexandra Park and even though Blackbird Fly has a handy draw [four] she will struggle to wrest favouritism from Western Dream.

But Purdon says this race is his chance.

"My filly has good gate speed so maybe we can lead or even trail. That would make her hard to beat but I'll know a lot more about just how good they all are after this race."

Blackbird Fly has shown great courage in her two starts, overcoming a check to win the first and sitting parked to win the second.

But tonight's 2200m event is significantly stronger and she will need to put a few lengths between herself and Western Dream early to keep her at bay.

Western Dream has rejoined the Tony Herlihy stable, from where she dominated the fillies' classics here in the winter, winning freshman filly of the year honours.

Before coming north she resumed with a gutsy win over Gretamaro at Forbury Park and Herlihy believes she has improved.

"I am sure she is stronger than last season and I was happy with what she did at the workouts last week," said Herlihy.

"She is big and strong and while it won't be easy from the second line draw I think she is good enough to overcome it. She is pretty good."

The pair are far from the only chances in the event, with Alinghi showing enormous talent in her two wins so far, coming wide inside in the last lap on both occasions.

She faces the tricky prospect of having to hold her position from the ace draw in her first visit to Alexandra Park but if she can stay handy she represents the value in the race.