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2013 GARRARDS NZ SIRES' STAKES 2YO FINAL

They say that Mark Purdon is New Zealand’s best juvenile trainer, well I'll tell you what. His older brother Barry isn’t half bad either. The Clevedon based trainer not only won tonight's (Friday May 11) $165,000 Sires' Stakes Final (Group One) with Maxim but he also got second with Sky Major bringing up a stable quinella.

Both Maxim and Sky Major are owned by Mrs K J Purdon, T G Casey, Clear view Racing no 4 syndicate, J Lohman, T H Henderson and The Anzac Racing Syndicate.

The Purdon trained pair dominated from up front, adopting lead-trail tactics. It was Tony Herlihy and the well supported Sky Major who swung for home first, but they were quickly collared by Zac Butcher and underdog Maxim, who powered up the Stunin Cullen sprint-lane to claim Group One glory.

Isaiah, who looked to be struggling on the bend, found a second win to storm into third for Mark Purdon, while Zacharia, who is also trained by the latter Purdon finished in fourth, giving the Purdon brothers the first four. Zacharia, just for good measure is also owned by Trevor Casey, who is a shareholder in both Maxim and Sky Major.

Maxim dashed his final sectionals in 55.9 and 26.4, eliminating the chances of anything trying to come from the back.

Sixth was the best Australian Allblack Stride could muster, while Regulus faded to fifth after racing outside the leader on the home bend.

Maxim, a son of Bettor's Delight and Splendid Deal (In The Pocket - Splendid Dreams), hails from the all-conquering Scuse Me family, which has produced stars such as Hands Christian (Christian Cullen- Splendid Dreams), Christen Me (Christian Cullen - Splendid Dreams) and of course tonight's New Zealand Oaks first and third placegetters Adore Me (Bettor's Delight - Scuse Me) and Splendour (Bettor's Delight- Splendid Deal). Who is the breeder of Maxim? Yes you guessed it, the man behind this ‘splendid' family, Charlie Roberts.

Maxim's driver Zac Butcher was full of praise for Barry Purdon, thanking him for all of the wonderful opportunities he has presented him with.

Butcher was also full of praise for Maxim.

"We did receive a good trip tonight, but this horse really does try his heart out, and he possesses a big motor."

Butcher also admitted he was relatively confident heading into tonight, although he must have been one of the only ones who were as Maxim paid odds of $18.70 and $3.40.

It was Butcher's second Group One win after having taken out the NZ Oaks with Cheer The Lady at this exact meeting last year.

The win also brought up back-to-back Sires' Stakes wins for Barry Purdon having won the illustrious race last year with another son of Bettor's Delight in Five Card Draw.

It was Barry's seventh win in the race overall, having previously trained Billbob (1984), Chokin (1991), Montana Vance (1992) and Ill Vicolo (1994) to win in partnership with his father Roy, as well as Matai Mackenzie (2000) and Five Card Draw (2012)on his own account.



Credit: Mitchell Robertson writing on harnesslink.com 18May2013

2013 NEVELE R FILLIES SERIES FINAL

Adore Me moved into Horse of the Year contention with another crushing display in Saturday's $150,000 Nevele R Fillies Series Final No.35 at Addington.

With this weeks New Zealand Oaks and a Jewels Diamond seemingly at her mercy, Adore Me can finish the season unbeaten in 11 races against her own sex and only beaten by Ohoka Punter in the Great Northern Derby, a performance which only earned her further admirers given very few fillies have even taken on the colts in modern times.

Two further Gr1 successes in coming weeks would give Adore Me a total of five and stakes in her first campaign of almost $500,000. She has also claimed a New Zealand mile record for a filly of 1:52.4.

Off colour after the Derby and freshened, Adore Me has returned to racing again looking invincible. Despite drawing an outside gate in the Fillies Final, Mark Purdon was able to treat his opposition with contempt. Eased away into midfield as Kabet took them through a fast lead time, Purdon was on the move with a lap to run but Delightful Christian and Maurice McKendry had designs on getting to the front first. This had Adore Me working three wide in the open for a good way, but she was always travelling too well and had put Delightful Christian away with 700m to run.

With a last quarter in 27.6, Adore Me was always clear in the run home and she crossed the line with over three lengths to spare from stablemate Whisper Jet, who poked between runners after a good trip from Tony Herlihy. There was no loitering along the way and Adore Me's 2:20.6 was a mile rate of 1:56 and not far off Carabella's race and national record.

Purdon has won this race with O Baby and Secret Potion, and there has been other top fillies through the stable such as Twist And Twirl, Lancome, Meredith Maguire, Imagine Me and Imagine That to name just a few in recent times, but Adore Me is clearly in a class of her own. The extra distance of this week's Oaks will only suit Adore Me more than any of her rivals and then it will just come down to a fitting season finale at Ashburton.

Raced by her breeder Charlie Roberts along with his daughter Mary and son-in-law Paul Kenny, who are also racing half-sister Abide With Me on lease with Stephen Reid, Adore Me has also taken the record of her dam Scuse Me to another level when that BG's Bunny mare had seemingly done quite enough. Adore Me is her 10th foal and 10th winner, with eight in 2:00 having also included Imagine Me. Adore Me is Scuse Me's first foal by Bettors Delight however and she has since produced three more, including another filly this season.

Whatever the outcome of the Horse of the Year poll, where Adore Me will vie with Terror To Love, Stig and a late charge from Christen Me, the Broodmare of the Year is also looking a one-horse race for Scuse Me. She also happens to be the grandam of G1 winners Hands Christian and Christen Me and the third dam of good filly Splendour and juvenile Maxim, who both competed in Saturday's features as well.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 15May2013

2013 PGG WRIGHTSON NZ YEARLING SALES SERIES 2YO OPEN

The PGG Wrightson NZYSS 2yo Open is invariably a torrid and action packed affair and this year's Listed feature proved no exception at Addington on Saturday night.

There was early drama when Meticulous, an impressive 1:55.6 winner at Ashburton a week earlier, again choked down and wound up going down, lying on the track with a nasty gash to a knee until the race was finished. And there was later drama at the 600m when Explosive Art and Ubettabelieveit found the searing pace beyond them and wound up locking wheels, effectively wiping out more than half the field with the backwash.

That left a race of five after 13 had started, which soon became four when Cyclone Prince cried off on the home turn. It was a ding-dong go between the last four standing in the drive for the finish, but Isaiah had had the best run and collared the warm favourite Allblack Stride in the passing lane. Tony Herlihy had also given Sky Major a sweet trip and he finished strongly late to also peg back the Aussie raider, with Regulus unlucky and going a big one to finish fourth just half a length from the winner. But the result had largely been determined by the barrier draws.

Isaiah had been plagued by difficult draws before, but he had the ace on this occasion and Mark Purdon knew that Allblack Stride would be around in search of the lead sooner rather than later. That Christian Cullen colt had to camp three wide before working to the front after the first 800m, which ultimately cost him late in the piece and his unbeaten record. Allblack Stride paced his last mile in 1:55 and change after starting from the outside of the front line and would have lost no friends for his remaining engagements here. But Isaiah had also had to contend with the early and surprising charge from Explosive Art and posted a 1:55.5 mile rate for the trip, and his 2:20 had bettered Tintin In America's race and national record of 2:20.5.

This made the performance of Regulus all the more meritorious. After starting from post four on the second line and being in the rear to the 1100m , Regulus was in the three wide line down the back but received a check at the 600m which must have cost him five lengths. How the Mach Three gelding got so close was a feature of the race - his last 400m must have been in 26 and small change.

But the record books will show a seventh win in the event for trainer Mark Purdon, and the sixth since Jack Cade 12 years ago. It also wrapped up a sterling Premier Day result for the All Stars Stable, which won all three features. Minnie Moose would also win the penultimate race to make it six wins from the twelve tote races. Purdon actually won all six races he had starters in after taking a team of 16.

It was a first win for each of the owners of Isaiah however. Bought for $45,000 at Karaka on Purdon's recommendation, Isaiah is raced by regular stable clients Phil and Glenys Kennard, Met club director John Grainger and John Magness along with Neville and Marie Lancaster. The latter Christchurch couple had previously had limited success with Shultz and Highview Ebony although the latter was second in the Sales race for 2-year-old fillies behind Bettor Cover Lover three years ago.

But the Kennards have had an outstanding run in recent times as a result of buying colts from the yearling sales with Purdon. "We've been trying to win this race for a while now and had starters like Fiery Falcon (third in 2007), Highview Tommy (third in 2008) and Major Mark (fourth 2010)." said Glenys. "Mark had siad he just needed a decent draw to be a big chance and he got that finally," she added.

The Kennards deserved success was temperedby the fate of Meticulus however. "I actually missed the first half of the race because I was that worried about him." They were also disappointed that their top ranked 2-year-old trotting Not About Money was in a paddock with a quarter crack instead of contesting the Sires Stakes earlier in the day.

Despite having had little luck with barrier draws prior to this, Isaiah has now raced eight times for four wins and three seconds for stakes worth $189,000 with the Sires Stakes and Jewels still to come. The only time Isaiah has not be one-two was his prior start when fifth a month earlier, after working particularly hard in a quickly run Welcome Stakes. Six days prior to that Isaiah had posted 2:20.7 when winning a Sires Stakes heat by seven lengths.

After debuting before Christmas, Isaiah has also won the Sapling and been second in the Young Guns Final. This was a battle that Isaiah won but the outcome of the war remains undetermined. The Allblack Stride camp remained bullish about their chances this week with a better draw, and then there's Regulus. With the honours having been fairly evenly shared amongst the freshmen male pacers to date, Isaiah now has the edge but the end of the season title will be determined by the Sires Stakes and Jewels results.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 15May2013

2013 SEELITE WINDOWS & DOORS SIRES' STAKES 2YO TROTTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

With four starters involved in the G2 Seelite Windows & Doors Sires' Stakes 2yo Trotters Championship at Addington on Saturday, Trevor Casey always held a strong hand, particularly after One Over Da Moon galloped his way out of contention from the start. And Casey got the perfect result when Daenerys Targaryen, the filly he bred and races on his own account, led from start to finish.

This was always the likely outcome after the beautiful and substantial Majestic Son filly drew the pole and One Over Da Moon had become overly keen in the score up and his gallop resulted in the crupper coming loose along with his remaining gear. With regular driver Ricky May back at the helm, Daenerys Targaryen easily held the lead and May sent them along at a solid clip before easily holding them all at bay with a final quarter in 28.3. The time of 2:28.8 was some way off Sheemon's race and national record 2:25.5 from last year, but May had only gone as fast as he needed.

Apart from precocious ability, Daenerys Targaryen's greatest assets have been her temperament and manners. She has now raced six times for three wins and three seconds, only being beaten by stablemate Not About The Money and One Over Da Moon in the Trotting Stakes. "I don't think she's ever put a foot wrong at home either," said Casey. "We knew she was good from the time Maree Price broke her in - she's usually right," he added.

Daenerys Targaryen is the sixth foal and fifth winner from broodmare revelation Niamey, the dam also of Casey's Jewels winner Pocaro (3, 1:57.5, 13 NZ wins, $233,000) and Springbank Sam (13 NZ wins, $223,000 to date), a last start second in the Rowe Cup. Casey recalled that he had been involved in racing Niamey for a few starts with trainer-driver Ken Barron and Gary Allen, but she had shown nothing and his partners weren't keen to breed. "She was actually pretty close to getting her head chopped off, but as a sister to Africa, I figured I would breed a couple of foals (Lord Nelson and Pacaro). Then Gary decided to breed a couple. He got Ugly Betty and then after I'd told him how good Pocaro was as a yearling, he put Niamey back to Sundon and got Springbank Sam (sold at Premier Sale)."

Casey then bred another brother to the latter in the placed 3yo Sun of Anarchy along with Daenerys Targaryen, although Niamey has only left one foal since in a weanling colt by The Pres. She is now in foal to Muscle Mass for Allen.

Trouble Rieu, a useful looking stayer in the making, stuck on well for second after sitting parked throughout and got a good reward for his effort to finish ahead of the winner's stablemates Twentyten, Hot Pants and Dieu De L'Amour, who were all close up.

But the Jewels is now looking like a race in two and One Over Da Moon will need to get things right. "There's a race at Addington next week for Daenerys Targaryen which will be a nice lead up to the Jewels. "She's in the Breeders Crown, but like most we'll just be looking to get through the Jewels before deciding anything about that. The way the costs are in going to the Crown, you pretty much need to win the thing."


Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 15May2013

2013 SEELITE WINDOWS & DOORS NZ TROTTING DERBY

Just when it seemed Habibti could take her level of performance no higher, she does. There was no other conclusion at the end of the fascinating finish to the Seelite Windows and Doors NZ Trotting Derby at Addington last Friday night.

After looking only good for third at the top of the straight, when Blitzthemcalder and Royal Aspirations had put two lengths on her, she gamely clung to them, and then started to close in. Blitzthemcalder, a handsome back horse with a reputation to match, did enough to keep a narrow margin on Royal Aspirations, but Habibti was a different kettle of fish. On she came, slowly at first but chasing hard and then deceptively quickly to beat the pair by two necks in a gruelling last 100 metres.

How good are these young trotters? Not only did Habibti break the 2600m mobile record for her age by running 3:13.5, which eclipsed the 3:17.7 set by Shezoneoftheboyz, but it was also inside the allcomers mark of 3:15.1 held by Jasmyn's Gift and faster than Christen Me took to win the Superstars.

"She was pretty tired at the end," said her driver and co-trainer Davey Butt. "Turning in I didn't think I was a show of winning, but half-way down I knew she would. She felt good out of the gate and she's done the job at both ends. You don't get many who can do that, and she's got a lot more speed now," he said.

Habibti, a chestnut by Love You, gave Butt extra pleasure because he is a part-owner with Robert 'Bolty' Paterson and Lynne Paterson. "I've never owned one that good. She's had this tie-up problem, but she seems good at the moment," he said. Habibti now continues her campaign at the Auckland Rowe Cup meeting which starts on Friday week.

Among those to congratulate Butt was his cousin Paul Nairn, a superb trainer of trotters, who said he was breaking in Habibti's yearling sister, a taller type. Meahwhile Chris Alford, was left wondering how success eluded Blitzthemcalder. "What did I do wrong?" said the Aussie ace.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 10Apr2013

2013 MUSCARA STANDARDBREDS PROUD SPONSOR NZ DERBY

Border Control got the best of a tight struggle with Bit Of A Legend to win the Muscara Standardbreds Proud Sponsor New Zealand Derby at Addington last Friday night. Given the perfect trip from the prefect draw, Border Control led for nearly a lap before driver Mark Purdon gave it up to Dexter Dunn.

It was a predictable move because Dunn was the one to beat with Bit Of A Legend and there was little doubt he'd hand it up. With the favourite Ohoka Punter having to make ground on them from well back, they were in good shape to run the last lap as Dunn pleased. Ohoka Punter was a safe third and Mossdale Connor came on from three deep to beat Scotlynn Jiggs for fourth.

It was another creditable result for Bettor's Delight, who sired the first four home from five starters, and it was the ninth New Zealand Derby win for Mark Purdon as a driver, following Auckland Reactor, Likmesiah, Jack Cade, Young Rufus, Bogan Fella, The Court Owl, Il Vicolo and Mark Roy. As well, he has co-trained Derby winners, Fly Like An Eagle and Sleepy Tripp.

Border Control is raced bu Phil and Glenys Kennard, Neil Pilcher, Gavin Douglas, Phil and Margaret Creighton and Kevin Riseley, an Australian who took a shine to the horse when he was being sold and asked to be included in the partnership.

The winner of 10 races and a maiden a month or so back, Border Control may well have his next race in Western Australia. Purdon said there was a direct flight to Perth for the race on April 14, and the stake of $250,000 made it worth considering. "He really is the perfect racehorse," said Purdon. "He's got the manners and the travelling won't bother him."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 10Apr2013

2013 AVON CITY FORD WELCOME STAKES

Mark Purdon was expected to win the Avon City Ford Welcome Stakes with Isaiah, but he won it instead with his unfancied stablemate, Zacharia.

Blair Orange brought the son of Courage Under Fire home with a devastating burst from midfield to swamp a tiring bunch up front that included Isaiah and Regulus who was below his best. Isaiah wasn't, but he had a tough run, wide early, always moving forward without favours, parked, leading in and fading with a punctured tyre. On the other hand, Zacharia was handy but lost his position, which eventually was instrumental in his opportunity to finish with the speed he did.

Zacharia was bought by Neil Pilcher and Trevor Casey for $30,000. Pilcher didn't mind the price, nor the fact others had passed him over because he was so small. "I've had a great run with them - Smolda, Almost A Christian, and we lost him before we saw how good he was, Glengowan and Equaliser. I actually picked him out on the video, and then I was a little disappointed when I saw him, but everything was in proportion, and he's a lovely wee horse."

Driver Blair Orange said he didn't expect to beat the good ones. "What made it for us is that we got one cold shot at them. He's got a great will to win. And he's got high gate speed, and that's something we haven't used as yet." Orange has previously won the race in successive years with Kotare Mach, Highview Tommy and Ohoka Arizona.

Credit: Mikw Grainger writing in HRWeekly 10Apr2013

2013 RESOURCE RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES 4YO SUPERSTARS CHAMPIONSHIP

Cran Dalgety has dodged a clash with Terror To Love, Excel Stride and Caribbean Blaster in the Miracle Mile. It seemed the race was all locked in after Christen Me gapped six others of high class in the Resource Recycling Technologies 4YO Superstars Championship at Addington, but it was all off the next day.

Not that it was always on. Dalgety, along with owners Vicki Purdon and Charlie Roberts, were always just as keen on the Messenger and Taylor Mile and Harness Jewels, and all or some of these races would have gone had the Miracle Mile been the chosen course.

Dalgety does not think Christen Me is quite there for that company just yet, though he knows he's close. "What we decided that rather than get a big bit of nothing...run superb for third...we'd go for two strong kills closer to home. We have the Jewels after that, and then he's in the Breeders Crown," he said.

Dalgety said the horse had established his credentials now. "He really is the all-round package, a horse with high speed who can sustain it. Everything went wrong for him on Cup Day and he still kicked away. That was the race when I thought he could do something special," he said. As winner of the Chariots, and now the Superstars, Christen Me has the "feel growly" factor that makes Dalgety think "I couldn't say what he could be."

Dalgety says his failure to finish at his previous start when he was pulled up when a tyre came off the rim was not the huge surprise to him as it was to everyone else. "It's funny but I just had that premonition beforehand that something odd might go wrong and it did. And it seems strange, but Mark Purdon said he felt the same way the time I Can Doosit first got beaten at Cambridge."

Christen Me ran the 2600m mobile in a snappy 3:14.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 10Apr2013

2013 GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND NZ PREMIER MARES CHAMPIONSHIP

Super mare Bettor Cover Lover had little more than a training run to win last Friday night's $40,000 Gr2 Premier Mares Championship at Addington. From barrier three, outside of a trademark lead-trail early spurt from Dexter Dunn with Donegal Delight, Brent Mangos was able to dictate a slow tempo and sprint home to comfortably hold the trailer with the rest in a race for third. Pemberton Shard came out of the one-one to win that race when they were all flat making any ground at all in the run home.

With the final sectionals flying by in 56.2 and 27.4, Bettor Cover Lover only had to record a 1:59.1 mile rate, when she is quite capable of breaking 1:55. "That was ideal after not having had a run for over a month," said Mangos. "We didn't have to go too hard and that should improve her nicely and have her spot on for the Breeders Stakes," he added.

The race was effectively over, if it wasn't already when the draws came out, when Dunn's early initiative meant Mangos could put Pembrook's Delight three back. "I could have held the lead at the start, but when Dexter came out, I let him go knowing the other mare would then be three fence." This was Bettor Cover Lover's fourth win in four races this season and her 17th in 27 lifetime starts for stakes worth $864,000. The big, strong Bettor's Delight 5-year-old has won five Group 1 races along with two Listed Sales races.

Bettor Cover Lover is staying with David and Catherine Butt at the Woodend Beach, but "She doesn't need to be at the beach. She trains on the track, but it's good to have the beach there if we need a freshen up." But Bettor Cover Lover is quite clearly right at the top of her game at the moment. "There were times last year when I thought 'we're a bit better than this, although she never went a bad race'. When she came back from the injury, she had some hard races against Carabella and a couple of trips to Oz and I think she was looking for a spell towards the end. She had seven weeks out and she seems better and stronger this time in."

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 23Jan2013

2013 ROSE DAKIN SUMMER CUP

Terror To Love continued on his path to the Inter-Dominion heat and final with a narrow but comfortable win over Christen Me in the Group 3 Rose Dakin Summer Cup last Friday night. Just as he had done when beaten by Jason Rulz in the Pelorus Classic, Christen Me was gallant in defeat. On this occasion, he gave Terror To Love four lengths at the 800m and closed the gap to within half a length.

"I never touched him," said Ricky May, driver of Terror To Love. "He always tries his hardest. He's not quite there yet, but you know with Graham and Paul (Court) that he'll be there when he has to be. I think everything is progressing well," he said.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 6Feb13