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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 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