Marcoola making most of his move to Purdon
It is not every day the Inter Dominion Trotting favourite joins your stable a few days before the series. But it is a case of so far, so good for Marcoola and new trainer Barry Purdon.
The exceptionally talented stallion joined Purdon on Monday night from the Canterbury stables of regular trainer Ken Ford.
“He has been great, no hassle at all,” enthuses Purdon.
Although he is well travelled, stallions can sometimes be stroppy or even sulky in new environments so Purdon being happy with his initial look over the seven-year-old will comfort those taking the $1.90 to win his trotting heat on Friday night at Alexandra Park.
Purdon has confirmed that while Marcoola is a family horse for the Fords, he has arrived north for the series with no training instructions, as you might expect considering Purdon became the first trainer to 2500 domestic wins at Addington during Cup week.
“He seems happy here but I would also expect him to be more at home as the series continues as he gets more used to the place,” says Purdon.
Marcoola wasn’t the only newcomer to truck through Purdon’s front gate on Monday, with former Easter Cup winner A G’s White Socks having joined him for the series from the Greg Hope stable.
“He is a lovely looking horse and has come up in good condition, as you would expect from the Hopes.”
Regular drivers Sheree Tomlinson (Marcoola) and Ricky May (A G’s White Socks) will retain the drives on the pair for the series.
Purdon is happy with his longtime stable series reps of Mach Shard and On The Cards although both face tricky draws on Friday.
Purdon would have also had Ball Of Art in the series and was keen to start him had there been three heats.
He was only withdrawn after the Inter Dominion Council decided to reduce the pacing series to two heats.