Mark Purdon didn’t reach the pinnacle of harness horse training by substituting optimism for reality and Akuta will undergo blood tests on Monday to ensure all is well.
Akuta failed to fire as Mark had hoped over the final stages of the Discretionary Open on Friday and while a 54.5 800 off the front and a 27 400 to close were tough fractions for a horse who had been in the open for a lap, he felt there was more to consider.
Akuta was facing three starts in as many weeks going into Friday’s race after missing the Methven Cup and so when Republican Party the other 25m handicap runner made a rush to to control the race early, Mark opted to go a quieter route before launching wide from the bell. Akuta was under fire at the 400 and battled in the run home.
“There were excuses but I felt on the way he was going at home he should have done more”
At present it is intended he run in the Canterbury Classic on Friday and the Ashburton Flying Stakes on October 27 as leadups to the New Zealand Cup. While Friday’s race was not originally on that agenda any setbacks this close to the New Zealand Cup could prove crucial.
“I don’t think its anything serious but we will get the blood checked to make sure”
Handicaps and draws did not work in favour of the team on Friday but Mark was happy with OSCAR BONAVENA’s effort in the 2000m Worthy Queen with the star closing strongly over the last 100m.
The clue to the outcome of the race,true of so many open 2000m handicap trots, was the time.It was close to the New Zealand record (2.28.2) held by Muscle Mountain. In fact both he and Oscar Bonavena broke 2.28 so both runs could only be described as outstanding in the circumstances.
Mark had little luck from a wide gate with TREACHEROUS BABY who came from near last for fourth through the middle of the field in the $60,000 Spring Classic. On a 55.8 800 and 28 400 it was a solid effort.
He had posted a win earlier in the night for Dancingonmoonlight and Ross Houghton with MIDNIGHT DIAMOND, the product of her sire Royalty for Life’s biggest crop of foals here-all 5 of them in 2019.An outcross line by today’s pedigrees,Royalty For Life was an outstanding two year old and champion three year old of his year in the US and the best racing son of his sire R C Royalty. Royalty for Life was offered in Australia from 2016 under a frozen semen arrangement for a pricey $5000 in the same era Muscle Hill was made available here by the same stud.
Royalty For Life stood in Canada but was later sold to Ohio for a cool $US1m partly to be used as a sire of saddle and roadhorses then popular in that area.
Midnight Special, bred at Graham Court’s Pinelea Stud,comes from the family of Allegro Agitato and Skyvalley or, for those with very long memories, mid 20th century trotting characters, Briganelli and Bulls Eye.
Mark’s weekend didn’t improve with the scratching of his galloper Buster Shaw from a resuming run at Ashburton on Saturday A stone bruise was backed to be overcome but at scratching time it was decided it wasn’t quite healed.
“It was touch and go really but we decided not to risk it. Probably with a pacer it would have been fine but the thoroughbred foot is more sensitive and Kerry (Estreich,Purdon Racing blacksmith) recommended we give it a little more time. He should be back racing soon”
PIC,Royalty For Life,sire of Midnight Special, Marks first winner at Addington on Friday,in his championship three year old days driven by Brian Sears. Midnight Special, raced by Dancingonmoonlight and trained by Ross Houghton was one of five registered foals by the Canadian-based stallion in 2019 when available for frozen semen,and his only starter.