| FEATURE RACE COMMENT |
YEAR: 2012
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The Trevor Casey owned and bred Escapee notched up her sixth win from 10 starts - and fifth in a row - when dealing to her eight filly opponents. Purdon had her situated in the one-one and then parked down the back straight before running away from them in the straight to win ridiculously easy.
The daughter of Sundon trotted the 1950m mobile in 2:25.3 (mile rate: 1:59.8) - with final 800m and 400m sprints of 58.8 and 29.7.
It was Escapee's second Group Three victory in two months. On February 11 she had a two-length victory in the $25,000 Hambletonian Classic, at Ashburton.
Escapee almost looks a home run in next week's Group One $80,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby.
For the record Purdon and Payne trained five winners at Addington tonight. The others were Arden Tetrick (race one), Springsteen (race 3) and Three Pints (race 12).
The Kennards also have a share in Arden Tetrick, while Pilcher also has shares in Springsteen and Three Pints.
Casey is also a co-owner of Three Pints.
Credit: Duane Ranger writing in HarnessLink 28 Mar 2012
YEAR: 2012
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There's seldom a premiere meeting go by when Rolleston harness racing trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne aren't picking up Group 1, 2, or 3 spoils. And that trend continued tonight (Friday March 23) at Addington Raceway when Purdon steered Smolda and Escapee to easy Group 2 and 3 victories respectively.
Smolda trailed his stablemate Fly Like An Eagle (Tony Herlihy) most of the way to win the Group Two $40,000 Vero Flying Stakes for 3yo pacers.
Smolda, a Courage Under Fire gelding, went into the race the winner of seven of his last eight starts including the Group Two Elsu Classic at Alexandra Park on December 16.
In the lane he out-muscled his stablemate (Fly Like An Eagle) to win by three quarters of a length in 2:23.2 (1950m mobile). The winning mile rate was 1:58.1, with final 800m and 400m sprints of 54.6 and 27.3 seconds.
He is now sure to start one of the favourites in next Friday's Group One $150,000 New Zealand Derby.
Smolda is owned by Mrs Glenys and Phil Kennard, Neil Pilcher, M. A. R. Kirkwood - and was bred by P.B. Blackshaw.
Credit: Duane Ranger writing in HarnessLink 23 Mar 2012
YEAR: 2012
2012 RESOURCE RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES SUPERSTARS CHAMPIONSHIP
Gold Ace might have struggled a tad against the open class pacers in recent starts but the gifted son of Bettor's Delight proved yet again that he is one of New Zealand's best 4yo pacers when winning the Group Two $40,000 Superstars Championship
He had to be good tonight and he was downing favourite and New Zealand Cup winner and arch-rival Terror To Love by a neck.
Peter Ferguson situated him in the one-one down the back straight the first time. They were three-back on the outside at the bell and were followed ever step of the way by Terror Tor Love and Jim Curtin.
But the Steven Reid (Pukekohe) trained black entire, despite being several lengths back at the quarter, and then the widest on the turn still had too much sprint for Terror To Love and Franco Ledger (Hamish Hunter).
Winner's time for the 2600m standing start event - 3:12.8 (mile rate: 1:59.3) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 56.7 and 28.1 seconds.
Tonight's victory was Gold Ace's 14th from 30th starts and brought up the $750,000 in career stakes. His Group One victories came at Addington on November 9, 2010 in the $165,596 Sires Stakes 3yo Final and the $175,000 Golden Nugget 4yo Championship .at Gloucester Park in Perth on November 25, 2011.
He is owned by Ms Wendy Reid, D. G. Moore, M. Ng, and the D D Syndicate. Moore also did the breeding.
Credit: Duane Ranger writing in HarnessLink 23 Mar 2012
YEAR: 2012
2012 GLENFERRIE FARM 4YO TROTTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Paramount Geegee is back and could be heading for a big season on both sides of the Tasman if the way he dealt to tonight's Group Three $25,000 4yo Trotters Championship opponents is anything to go by.
The John Dickie trained driven gelding started well from his 20m handicap and Robbie Holmes had him fifth down the back straight the first time and then in the one-one at the bell.
On the turn they stalked the pace-makers before grabbing the lead three-wide at the top of the lane. They then slipped clear to win by a length in 3:21.5 (mile rate: 2:04.6) for the 2600m stand. Last 800m: 61.1. Last 400m: 29.6.
Favourite Thanesan (Anthony Butt) made up ground late to finish second, a-1/4 lengths clear of outsider Phil's Gift and Jamie Keast.
The son of Pegasus Spur has already won a Harness Jewels Final (New Zealand) and two Breeders Crowns (Australia). The way he won tonight don't be surprised if he does make it the double and treble come August 19.
Paramount Geegee's biggest wins to date have been the $80,000 Northern Trotting Derby at Alexandra Park on May 6, 2011; $80,000 NZ Trotting Derby at Addington on May 20, 2011; the $100,000 3yo Harness Jewels Ruby Ashburton in June 2011; the $165,000 and $100,000 Breeders Crown 2yo and 3yo Trots at Melton in August 2010 and 2011.
All-up Paramount Geegee has now won 17 of his 26 starts and placed six times for $556,005 in stakes.
He is owned by Mrs J. R. Davies, J. B. Davies, C. B. Blackwell, J. J. Hope, Mrs J. E .Sutherland.
G. F. Gimblett and Studholme Bloodstock Limited did the breeding.
Credit: Duane Ranger writing in HarnessLink 23 Mar 2012
YEAR: 2012
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Smolda was magnificent in defeat when second in the Group 1 $150,000 Ricoh New Zealand Derby at Addington last Friday night.
But all was not lost for the multi-armoured All Stars Stable and its tight three, Neil Picher and Phillip and Glenys Kennard. As well as being part-owners of Smolda, they are also partners with Gavin Douglas and Phil and Margaret Creighton in Fly Like An Eagle who won the classic after everthing went right.
It was not as if everything went wrong for Smolda, but he did have a predictably hard slog; up from the back before the last lap, up second outside Scandalman at the 1000m, appearing to struggle at the 400m, up again to head him at the 250m, only to be caught by his stablemate who had just enough gas after a soft run behind Scandalman. It was a run of great fortitude. Mark Purdon gave him credit for it. "The other horse could not have done what Smolda did," he said.
Fly Like An Eagle had a perfect run in the trail behind Scandalman. "When Smolda comes round, I won't be letting him go," said Jimmy Douglass, Scandalman's tiny Australian driver, before the race. Purdon didn't press the point when he came up, although Smolda was keen to get on with it. Closer to home, Scandalman was soon in a bit of bother. "He wasn't as good tonight," said Douglass. He hadn't raced for three weeks and he needs a race at least a week out. We couldn't find one at home and couldn't get over here for the first night. I think he was a run short."
Fly Like An Eagle had been on the ladder of steady improvement, following his Northern Derby fourth with a game lead-up second in th Flying Stakes, only to be collared late by Smolda. This has all come from a late start to the season, forced on him by the operation to remove two bone chips from a knee when he was in Ballarat as a late 2-year-old. "I wasn't really unhappy at the time," said Purdon. "He was needing a break and the three months he had out after that was really to his benefit," he said.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 4 Apr 2012
YEAR: 2012
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| Michael Taranto presents the trophy to Trevor Casey |
It would be hard to recall a better young trotter than Escapee. Some will come to mind and may be as good, but it would have to be special to be better.
Escapee has won seven of her 11 starts. There were two seconds, when she started off, and her untested win in the Group 1 Seelite Windows and Doors New Zealand Trotters Derby at Addington was her sixth on end.
In the domnating form she's now in, it's hard to believe how the losses occurred. But for the record - second on debut to All Shook Up, disqualified from fourth behind Flying Isa, second in the Jewels to Flying Isa, all at two; and 12th on the grass at Orari when first-up as a three-year-old.
It was unfortunate that You Rock was not there - forced out owing to veterinary treatment - because that may have given her competition the others couldn't. No Boundaries was the best of them, more than three lengths back, after running a trailing second throughout.
The performance of Escapee was no less than what Mark Purdon expected. "I thought she was actually better this week, than last week, when she won the Oaks," he said. "And she reminds me very much of Dependable, same frame, same way of going, and I trained him at the same age." Purdon, in fact, gave Dependable 10 starts at three and won three, including two Group 1s.
Escapee is owned by his breeder, Trevor Casey, a big man in the game in so many ways. Sponsor Michael Taranto was on the mark when he said: "It's great to see an owner and a breeder who puts back so much as a sponsor, get a reward like this." Casey said "It was a relief. The pressure is on when you have a $1.20 shot."
Escapee still has much ahead of her, with a trip north to come, and You Rock, will be waiting, and Not Likely as well. Not Likely, a strong third in the Oaks, was not at her best for the Derby and galloped when leading at the mile. She has also been sold, to Australian Ray Cahill, but will stay with trainer Andrew Grant until after the Jewels.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 4Apr2012
YEAR: 2012
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Owners Clive and Rona McKay had a speedy return on a horse they bought on Friday. On the morning of the premier meeting at Addington they paid Spreydon Lodge for a half-share in the 2-year-old Franco Nelson, and by the time the night was over, they had part of the payment back.
A colt by Christian Cullen, Franco Nelson had made a stunning debut a fortnight earlier, beating Border Control and Sir Tosti Mach. The Purdon-Payne pair were in again, badly off at the start, but the big danger was Ohoka Punter, off the pole, and Franco Nelson was drawn to follow him out. That's what happened, but instead of Okoka Punter doing enough to hold him out, he didn't.
Franco Nelson worked up the passing lane for Craig Thornley to win the Avon City Ford Welcome Stakes by half a head, and the McKays were $11,000 better off. The money should keep coming because driver Craig Thornley said he would only keep getting better. "It was a big training effort by Steven (McRae) to win a Group race at just his second start, but the horse is very good. Ohoka Punter got a length and a half on me turning in, but I didn't panic, and just chased him up."
While Thornley is uncertain what Franco Nelson would do next, he thinks it won't be very much in the short term. "I know Steven has the Breeders Stakes in mind. He is a very good trainer, and if he has a plan he sticks to it."
After leaving Franco Nereus, Fanco Noriega and four others before Franco Nelson and a filly by Live Or Die since, Notafella Franco was offered at a Spreydon Lodge dispersal sale a year ago in foal to Badlands Hanover where McRae, Andrew Stuart and Gareth Dixon bought her for $8000. The colt foal was born dead, and she was not served this season.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 4Apr2012
YEAR: 2012
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Habibti went to the head of the first season trotting class with an emphatic display in the $25,000 Glenferrie Farm NZ 2YO Trotting Stakes at Addington last Saturday night.
In the first juvenile trotting feature of the season, where favouritism had been disputed between Royal Aspirations and Paramount Queen, Habibti was eased away from the seven gate by David Butt but a quick burst at the 1300m landed the flashy chestnut filly in front and Butt was able to dictate things from there. Another spurt with a 29.6 quarter down the back took the stuffing out of the chasers and Habibti was on her own in the run home, crossing the line with three and a half lengths to spare over Sheemon and Paramount Queen.
On a blustery night which subdued times noticeably, Habibti posted 2 27.8 and a 2 01.9 mile rate and this was only .3 of a second outside Kylie Ree's national filly record. The all-comers mark is still held by Tony H at 2 27.1 after a titanic struggle with the freak filly Jo Anne in the 2001 Trotting Stakes.
Habibti has been in pretty much every battle from the start of the season and she has now had two wins, three second and three thirds from eight races for Rangiora's Robert 'Bolty' Paterson and David and Catherine Butt's Birchbrook Breeding Ltd. Bred by Gaby Maghzal, Habibti is the fourth foal and first filly from the Sundon mare Ten To One, who began racing at five for Dick Petrie and who retired at 11 with six wins, five of them at seven. Her first three foals have qualified without racing yet, with Maghzal acquiring her as a broodmare and her second foal Gabrielli, after first racing a close relation and smart juvenile Signor Gabrielli some 30 years ago. Paterson also races Musgrove, a winner of $170,000 and a game third from 40m two races earlier.
Habibti was coming off a slightly disappointing second at Rangiora the previous week, when she was gunned down by Rosemma. "We had her blood done after that and it turned out she was a bit crook," said David Butt. "She's only made two wee mistakes in her life - in her first start back in January and then in her first look at a grass track at Methven. She's always appealed as a good staying type and she's getting stronger all the time," he added.
Habibti is not paid up for the Sires Stakes in a month's time, bu Butt said they will "have to look at the late entry fee now. Initially I wasn't that keen because the $6000 is only for the one race - it doesn't put you back in the 3yo series. But we'll have to think about it now that she has won it I guess."
Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 12Apr2012
YEAR: 2012
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Inter-Dominion champion I Can Doosit pretty much wrapped up the Horse Of The Year title with another dominating display in Saturday night's $80,000 NZ Trotting Championship at Addington. This was his eighth straight win dating back to November's Dominion when he made an uncharacteristic break and the sequence includes three Group Ones and two G2s, with two further G1s now seemingly at his mercy back in Auckland in coming weeks - the $200,000 Anzac Cup and $150,000 Rowe Cup.
With his 26th win from just 43 races, which includes five G1s in all, I Can Doosit is now also just $22,000 away from being New Zealand's latest millionaire trotter. In this respect he will join Lyell Creek, Take A Moment and One Over Kenny. So it is getting to a point where one has to ask 'what more can you say' and 'what's left to prove?'. The asnswer to the first question is a little disturbing because I Can Doosit is actually getting better all the time, now being much smoother in his gait.
The big Muscles Yankee gelding has developed tactical speed to compliment his endless staying powers and Mark Purdon used that to great advantage in the Trotting Championship. It was a race which promised to be a wonderful match-up with the remarkable Stig but in the end that clash proved a fizzer. Stig was not a shadow of his former self on this occasion and the writing may well be on the wall for the injury-plagued rising 10-year-old. Improvement is expected the Auckland way, but Paul Nairn will need to somehow find plenty. Instead it was left to Jaccka Jack to run the race of his life for second, and for Clover Don to pick up his third G1 placing.
Breeder-owner Ken Breckon, who has almost certainly wrapped up at least one of those titles for the season as well, is now coming under intense pressure from European interests to take I Can Doosit to the Elitlopp at the end of May, and while that is something he would love to do, logic or common sense would seem dictate it won't be happening for the time being. Taking on the best European trotters over a mile at the 1000m Solvalla track in Sweden at such short notice is a daunting prospect to say the least. Tremendous gate speed is critical when the guns are blazing at the Elitlopp and it is a task which has already proved well beyond Pride Of Petite, Lyell Creek and Sundon's Gift. As a gelding, I Can Doosit is not eligible for the Prix d'Amerique in Paris at the end of January. "I haven't even spoken to Mark about it yet, but with such a big and powerful stable to run, it's hard to imagine when and how he could get away," said Breckon. "Plus I know just how desperate he is to win the Dominion, the one G1 race in New Zealand to elude him," he added.
Purdon has a plan to spell I Can Doosit after the Rowe Cup and set him for the Dominion again, and then there is the likelihood of a new $300,000 race at Melton next February to replace the Inter-Dominions. The 6-year-old I Can Doosit should have won the Dominion in 2010, but after a tough run in record time he was just nutted by Stylish Monarch and a great drive from Ricky May. He was raging hot favourite for this season's event, but he made that rare mistake at the start, and he wasn't at his best that day either. Quite simply, I Can Doosit can win a lot more money by staying at home over the next 12 months, than tackling the best trotters in the world on their home turf.
So the answer to the latter question is a lot easier than finding more superlatives for I Can Doosit. But Breckon is not discounting the idea of taking I Can Doosit on to the world stage if at all possible at some point and he won't be lacking for any encouragement about a "trip away" from wife Karen. "There's some longer distance races on the European Grand Curcuit in our winter which would suit him nicely.
Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 12Apr2012
YEAR: 2012
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Hands Christian well and truly announced his arrival on to the big stage with a thrilling win in a grand finish to Saturday night's Easter Cup at Addington.
Not that the Christian Cullen gelding hasn't been in the limelight since he began his career in earnest as a spring 3-year-old, when it took Gold Ace to narrowly down him in the Sires Stakes, but the more recent version is proving a much more mature model and this was his first G1 win when he has looked fallible at times in the past. "He has been a bit of a late developer, both physically and mentally, but he has shown glimpses of genuine ability at times," said Mark Purdon. "We've had some very big offers along the way, but I'm quite pleased we kept him now," he added.
One of those glimpses was at the Jewels last year when Hands Christian split Gold Ace and Terror To Love in a similarily nose and head grandstand finish, but he has sort of been living in their shadow for much of the time. Gold Ace and Terror To Love have seemingly been waging a private war, with the recent Superstars being just a return to their epic encounters as late 3-year-olds, but Hands Christian has always been lurking and on this occasion he beat them both fairly and squarely and on their merits.
After bobbling away and missing the start by 10-12 lengths, Hands Christian bided his time towards the tail of the field and he still had only Franco Ledger behind behind him at the 600m. Purdon began his charge soon after and flushed Terror To Love for a drag into the race, but coming wide from so far back hardly seemed a recipe for success at the time. But this had been a solidly run affair on a cool and windy night and the race would be one of quickly changing complexions as class became the biggest factor.
Just as the doughty Mah Sish had put Franco Emirate away early in the run home, Gold Ace and Terror To Love loomed alongside and seemed all set to go at it again. For once Terror To Love was obviously going to get the better of Gold Ace, off the back of a kinder trip for a change, only for Hands Christian to bomb them both right on the line. A time of 4:04 was more than respectable in the conditions and Hands Christian had come home in 56 and 27 and change to get around them.
"I sort of set him for this when we decided against a start in the Auckland Cup. He was very unlucky in the Superstars when I decided to try for an inside run on the home turn and he never really got clear. I thought we'd wait for Easter when he might have got a bit of a head start on the good ones. Things didn't work out that way, but he still got the job done."
This was just another outstanding Premier carnival performance from the all conquering Purdon & Payne stable, a G1 double on Saturday night being complemented by three supporting acts by Trilby, Harrison Maguire and Southwing Arden, and following on from Escapee's Trotting Oaks and Derby double and the quinella in the NZ Derby. The All Stars Stable won 14 races and well over $300,000 in stakes over the three nights, taking their seasonal tallies to 101 wins and $1.85m, the latter figure easily more than twice any other stable. And just to cap things off, the Easter Cup was a race the stable co-sponsored.
Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 12Apr2012
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