It is a lower key week for the Purdon stable after last week’s highlights (and lowlights) and with the Rolleston stable now at an end and the gradual transfer to Auckland, Nathan is looking to his youngsters to make their mark.
When we asked what sort of targets he was setting for himself in the north the first response was the juveniles.
“I want to win all the two year old races!” joked the usually low key Nath.
“We won’t of course but it is important for me to give confidence to our clients that the two year olds coming through are up to the mark to retain their interest and we think they are. So some wins from them is what we are aiming at.”
Chief talk about them this week surrounds RIVER making her debut for Jean Feiss in a small field at Alexandra Park where she is likely to end up favourite. However Nathan is not putting the pressure on.
“Sh is a nice filly but I don’t want to label her and put too much pressure on a first trip.She will go a good race”
LUBY’S LUCK on the other hand is becoming a trainer’s headache. She runs in the Harness Millions with Chris Alford to drive with Meant To Be the hot favourite. Luby’s Luck let the side down last week and Nathan is not sure what to think about her at the moment.
“I don’t know.She has seemed to be getting along well in some of her races and then she just sort of goes to pieces.We thought she would really come of age this time in but not much joy up here so far.So we have to take it as it comes”
THE BETTER ONE the only other starter at Auckland is in the right rating group and with a $2.30 price to match but Nathan is not as confident as the punters.
“It’s a good race for him but he hasn’t had the rub of the green and had a few setbacks and we are not quite sure where we are with him. This race should give us a good guide”
At Addington VESSEM is the standout chance with MR KAPLAN in the same race the only runners on the night.
“Vessem the pick. Mr Kaplan was first up last time down south but she was a touch disappointing even allowing for that. She is showing signs of coming to the end of it and we will reassess after this”
TREACHEROUS BABY and LOOK TO DE STARS were at the trials on Thursday both going well.
“There are some nice mare’s races coming up for Treacherous Baby one at Addington and one up here and we will work around that”
Nathan revealed that the talented mare is one of the most difficult to train for peak performances.
“She’s a hard read and you have to be so careful with her. Developed well and the ability is there. But a hard race at the wrong time sets her preps back sometimes for weeks,sometimes needing a spell so its a tightrope walk getting her to peak and keeping her there”
‘Look To Da Stars used to be like that a bit but he has developed well.Stronger now and more settled.He always looked like he would be a nice horse and he seems to be coming to it now”
Nathan and Mark will keep a small team in the south,based at the Blair Orange stables, under Michael and Alison woith some likely to spell int he south as well. But Auckland is now the main focus.
“It is a bit of a wrench leaving Rolleston but the fact is we are not training the team Mark built it for and we are not planning to having one that size.
“Up here (Pukekohe) we have facilities for up to 24 horses and don’t really want any more than that. We are right on the training track which is kept in tiptop order and it is shaping up just the way we planned”
And just look out for the two year old races!