Crippa Max makes his debut at Cambridge on Wednesday and Nathan expects it to be a good one -though more educational than explosive in spite of the odds-on price.
“He’s a nice youngster going forward. He will run here and then maybe New Year’s Eve (Alexandra Park) and we will plot his campaign from how he goes there “
Crippa Max is raced by Australians Danny Zavitsanos and Dom Martello from Victoria and cost $120,000 as a yearling. The pair are prominent owners in Australian racing.
“We had him marked and Dom liked him too and he works closely with Danny so he was pretty well sold at the fall of the hammer” Nathan said.
“He has quite a lot to learn and we are rating him from that point of view. He is certainly good enough to win”
“He’s a big colt still maturing. I wouldn’t say he is up with our best two year olds yet but I would say he can certainly get there”
Danny Zavitsanos and his wife Jo have raced several horses out of Purdon stables,most notably (with partners), Cruz Bromac winner of the 2019 New Zealand Cup in the hands of Blair Orange who gave him the run of the race. The exuberant Victorian lifted a usually self -effacing Mark high in the air after the race-a much bigger surprise for the -co-trainer than the result. Cruz Bromac,a horse with personality bred by Robert McArdle,had won a NZ Free for All for Natalie in 2018
Crippa Max has had two outings, a qualifier and then a Pukehohe workout which he won stylishly in 2.44 and change for the 2200. He is the third foal from a former All Stars stable star Elle Mac, a top filly in both her two and her three year old years against some very talented rivals and she competed strongly against the boys as an open class four year old. She was bought and raced by Jean Feiss and bred by Breckon Farms who repurchased her at the end of her career.
The stable also educated her first foal, Giga Hadid, a sister to Crippa Max,but she did not make the races.
“It wasn’t for lack of ability.She had a lot of potential” Nathan said
“But she had some soundness issues which the experts said would affect her under racing pressure so because she is so well bred it was an obvious option to retire her to the breeding paddock”
Debrief, a full brother to Crippa Max in the Telfer stable,hasn’t shown that level of potential but has twice been a winner from 16 outings.
Elle Mac (photo) , a Group One winner at two and three and retired at the end of her four year old season, won 12 races including the Nevele R Final, being denied in the N Z Oaks by stablemate Shez All Rock, the champion Australian filly who was en route to owner Chris Ryder’s stable in the United States. Elle Mac bowed out the winner of the Harness Jewels at Addington in June 2019.
Dream About Me was another keen rival at that age and she competed well in open class against smart sorts like Turn It Up, Alta Serena, A G’s White Sox etc .
Backing up the two year old on the night is PANTAMI making his debut for the stable while Mystic Max, in the temporary care of Nathan for brother Michael, will seek to re-establish his form in the same race.
Mystic Max has not been trotting smoothly of late but showed enough at the Cup meeting at Addington to suggest $7 is a tempting price back to a left handed track. Andre Poutama, who will also guide Crippa Max, takes the drive while Mark will handle Pantami.
Although at cramped odds, Nathan has no special high hopes for Pantami at this stage- more so for the near future. The four year old has not raced since October when he had a series of gait issues. He has had two Workouts since and won his latest last week (2600 in 3.19.5) running his last 800m in even time, his rivals including pacers. This race is still largely about doing things right as far as the stable is concerned.
“He has been through a tough time with his gait and we think his confidence is down. We are really looking for some solid trotting from him that will give him that. His best is good enough but we will be happy if he just does it right because whatever happens he is sure to improve with the run”
Nathan who takes over the stable on New Year’s Day,expects he and Mark will have at least six horses competing the previous night.