Club, Purdon at odds over nail
Auckland Trotting Club officials believe they have identified the source of a carpenter’s nail that punctured, and lodged in, star filly Princess Tiffany’s offside hind hoof at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
But her co-trainer, champion horseman Mark Purdon, is inclined to take a different stance.
The incident happened before, during or after the running of the Group 1 Caduceus Club Fillies Classic on Friday night.
‘‘The ATC has conducted a full-scale investigation and have found via the farrier who extracted the nail that the nail must have come in with the new shell placed on the track that week as the nail was caked in shell when he removed it,’’ said CEO Dominique Dowding.
Immediate measures have been taken to ensure there is no repeat at this Friday night’s premier meeting or beyond.
‘‘The ATC is now engaging a metal scanning company to scan thoroughly the track, float park and the stables to ensure these areas are safe.
‘‘The shell company will be notified as well to ensure that this never happens again.’’
Princess Tiffany showed tremendous courage and tenacity to contest and win the race. Her driver and co-trainer, Natalie Rasmussen, stated postrace that she felt the filly prop and stumble in the warm-up, which is when she believes the incident to have occurred.
Despite the pain it caused once she cooled down, the structural damage to her foot was relatively minor, the real threat being subsequent infection.
Swift farrier and veterinary attention has seen her likely avoid that with her other cotrainer, Mark Purdon, confirming on Monday afternoon that the danger zone has