There are these two talented fillies in the Purdon stable.
One is fast but inexperienced. The other not quite so brilliant but can hold a high cruising speed for a long time. So which of WAT NEXT or ALECTO will be the strongest winning hope in the 8.09 at Addington on Friday ?
The punters have decided its Wat Next at just her second race start. The half-sister to an Oaks winner has a kind gate,rattled home for second on debut and has been backed in from $4.50 to $3.60. She has Bob Butt in her cart, a relaxed driver able to use a kind run,also in her favour.
But Nathan is not convinced. At least not convinced there should be such a difference in price with Alecto sitting at $8.50.
On paper it is understandable. Alecto is coming off a completely forgivable but unplaced run at Auckland where the gate dictated the tactics and the plan did not work out. It’s racing,it happens.
“They are different types of fillies at this stage but I am surprised to find there is that much between them in the betting”
Wat Next had a needle sharp last 400 in her workout at Addington on Saturday (see pic) while Alecto pleased the stable with her serious hitout on Monday.
“Wat Next is very quick for this stage of her prep. Alecto is not quite as brilliant but she can sustain her speed for longer. The draw is not in her favour.
“But she has had the experience.We don’t expect Wat Next to be at her best from a racing viewpoint until further down the track toward the final of the series. Good enough to win here but still learning.”
Mark has stayed with Alecto as much as for future plans as anything else though,ever the realist, he is anxious to show what the filly is capable of.
“I went on an early run at Auckland thinking I was going to get a drag into it but it didn’t work out for us. She is better than that” he reflected at the time.
“Lizzie Borden is a nice filly and looks hardest to beat but our two are in it with any luck.The run of the race will be crucial for both” is Nathan’s summary.
SPECIAL OCCASION comes out in the following race in the colts and geldings heat and Nathan is looking forward to seeing him in action. He holds $2.70 favouritism from the ace gate for Mark ahead of Incentivise whose skills are well known to the team being trained by Ross Houghton at the DancingonMoonlight stable where Purdon Racing is based.
Special Occasion looked most appealing to the eye in his workout at Addington on Saturday shading Incentivise over 2000m.Bearing in mind Incentivise’s sensational record time at Oamaru on debut and the buyer interest it spurred,he will be worthy opponent.
“Special Occasion is very well. Has kept improving and he has things in his favour from the draw this week. He should be hard to beat.We are very happy with him” Nathan said echoing Mark’s thoughts from Saturday morning
Mark has another task on Friday -guiding other son Michael’s Mystic Max back toward his best form (7.44)
His progress stymied by injury and a sharp rise in class to the “senior” ranks last season a good spell and a long buildup might mean he should be showing form at short notice-like maybe this week at the inviting odds of $15.
“Michael brought him out on Monday and he worked well. He’s been doing things wrong a bit early but I’ve pulled out a couple of videos and I think he is on the right track. Could be in with a shout if he does it right”