Big feat looms for Purdon
Northern horseman likes his chances of completing a 4-year-old double at Ashburton
Champion trainer Barry Purdon is out to create a unique piece of Jewels history this Saturday as well as stop somebody else from doing the same.
And he thinks his 4-year-old flyers have the right draws to do just that.
Purdon has four Jewels contenders with the star power belonging to Sky Major, the $2.20 favourite for the 4-year-old male pace even from his second-line draw.
The multiple group one winner was a strong third at Addington last Friday, with the tempo of the race and his lack of recent hard racing playing against him, as Purdon warned punters it might.
“But I was thrilled with how he went and he only peaked the last 100m,” says the Hall Of Fame trainer. “So that will bring him on nicely and he is exactly where he needs to be.”
As the dominant favourite and having gate speed, Sky Major could have been odds-on for Saturday had he drawn the front line but Purdon is adamant he is just as happy with his draw of two on the second line.
“He has always been a very good horse following the speed, as we have seen in the last two Jewels.”
Sky Major came from the outside of the second line to down Tiger Tara in 1:52 in the Jewels at Cambridge last year and also drew the second line when he won his 2-year-old division at Ashburton in 1:52.8.
Those two wins mean he is aiming to become the first horse to win three Jewels this Saturday and after the scratching of key rival Dalton Bromac, who bled at Addington on Friday, he deserves his hot favouritism to achieve the feat.
As good as his rivals are, few have been able to stamp their mark as genuine open-class stars of the future, whereas Sky Major has looked something special throughout his career and reaffirmed that with huge wins in the Chariots Of Fire and Messenger this season.
So it wouldn’t surprise to see him end up a serious Cup winner in the next few seasons.
“He follows out a good beginner on Saturday and should be midfield in the running line so he will get his chance,” suggests Purdon.
While he is hoping to make history with Sky Major, Purdon’s 4-year-old pacing mare Lancewood Lizzie will be looking to stop Venus Serena doing the same earlier in the day.
Venus Serena is also aiming for the Jewels three-peat and like Sky Major has a second-line draw, whereas Lancewood Lizzie has the ace and the gate speed to use it.
“She is really well and is a natural front runner so we will be trying to lead all the way, more than likely,” says Purdon.
“Mares like Venus Serena and Willow have been racing well all season but we have the advantage over them in the draws so we won’t be handing that away.”
Venus Serena did come from a second-line draw though to beat Ideal Belle in 1:52.1 at the Jewels last season, a performance she might need to replicate to defend her title this week.
Lancewood Lizzie is one of the big market movers, coming in from $7 to $4 because of her draw and the fact the two favourites have to give her a start.
Meanwhile, the Australian team for the Jewels has been reduced to five with NSW mare Valerie scratched from the 4-year-old trot.
She was found to be lame after racing at Menangle on Saturday night, her withdrawal seeing King Denny shorten in to $1.65.
The TAB has opened Jewels specials which have the allconquering Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen stable paying $2.50 to win four races, while they are rated 750-1 to not train a Jewels winner.
Fans of super sire Bettors Delight can also bet on how many winners he has at Saturday’s meeting, with the favoured option of three wins paying $2.10.