MAJOR HOT and TREACHEROUS BABY will be the Purdon Racing duo heading to the Constellations Queensland Harness Carnival that peaks on July 27 when a new two year old slot race the $500,000 Ladbrokes Protostar will be staged alongside the Queensland Derby and Oaks the Queensland Trotters Cup and the $400,000 traditional highlight the Blacks a Fake.
Treacherous Baby is in search of a unique double in New Zealand breeding in her Oaks tilt. Her dam, O Baby,also raced by Braeden and Caroline Whitelock, won the race in 2012 with Natalie at the helm.The Whitelocks also bred and raced Princess Tiffany the 2019 Queensland Oaks winner,whose filly, Queen Lizzy,her first foal, topped the 2024 Sales at $270,000 when offered by the Whitelocks.
The Purdon pair are booked to leave for Brisbane shortly with Nathan possibly accompanying them over with a quiet racing time brewing on the local scene.
The “Spankem” syndicate owners of Major Hot
While neither has been the equal of the best three year olds they will probably be headed for the Redcliffe Derby and Oaks on June 29 each worth $A52,000 and move on to traditional leadup targets the South East Derby and South East Oaks on July 13.
The Queensland Oaks and Derby are each worth $150,000 and there are also combined three and four year old events which might attract attention if things go well. Queensland is offering $A350,000 for the three and four year olds in the Rising Sun over 2138m which offers bonuses for any three year old that wins or places. However the three year old features will be the main attractions.
The stable has won three previous Derby’s with Self Assured, More the Better and Best Deal Yet, all three of whom won the South Eastern Derby on the way through. The stable also has three Oaks winners in Princess Tiffany; Fight for Glory, who also won the NSW Oaks,and O Baby.
O Baby had won the Nevele R Final and the Harness Jewels Diamonds before campaigning in Queensland. She was in a strong year and stablemate Twist and Twirl was regarded as her superior especially over staying distances but drew badly in the Jewels standoff at Cambridge.O Baby then came from last to win the Queensland Classic a result that came too late for Horse of the Year contention.Her Jewels time of 1.54.8 was nearly two seconds faster than the previous winner,Carabella.
It was a vintage time for then All Stars Stables and the next year along came another filly of note in Adore Me.
O Baby, later sold overseas, has yet to leave anything of her own calibre but Mo’unga has been attracting considerable attention in Canterbury racing as an older horse. O Baby,who traced to broodmare gem,Sakuntala, was from a mare,Braeside Star,also bred by the Whitelocks.
Major Hot is raced by the Phil and Glenys Kennard syndicate best known through the deeds of Spankem. While he has not always run up to the potential the stable felt was there, he was third to Cold Chisel and Chase a Dream in the G2 Alabar Classic and a good 5th in the Harness Millions to the same quinella before failing in the Derby. There is no question that in his best form the half-brother to Hot and Treacherous can make his mark in Brisbane.
Pic Caroline and Braeden Whitelock -seeking another Oaks triumph