Most know that All Stars/Purdon Racing stars of the past even if vanquished in the NZ Cup are that much harder to beat in the FFA on Show Day and history is likely to repeat.
Immediately after the Cup Mark said a FFA run was likely and nothing changed later to alter his thinking.That could be bad news for his rivals even if they include Swayzee a terrific stayer perhaps more vulnerable over the shorter trip.
In 28 years of training Mark has won the FFA 12 times and the last seven on end.History may well repeat.
Mark made no excuses for Akuta the only disappointment in another great Cup day as he shot for his 9th Cup and his third as an Owner.
“At the top of the straight I actually thought I was going to get him. But he was just outfinished by a better horse on the day.He’s gone a great race”
He had no regrets over how the race was run.
“We got away well and were quite well placed on the outer. We were trapped wide for a bit as I moved him forward because it seemed like you had to be close to Swayzee to beat him. Then we got the trail before the corner but in the end Swayzee was too good.
Having posted wins with Franco Indie returning to his best form but with a price reflecting recent disappointments and behind everyone’s likely favourite for a Cup of the future in Don’t Stop Dreaming who outclassed his rivals;he then astutely handled the wonderful Millwood Nike minimising her workload from a wide draw,especially in windy conditions.She is a filly of whom he cannot speak highly enough and there were more positives to come taking the trifecta in the Sires Stakes and Mon Lancome showing spunk to hang on in the last for Blair.It topped off the day.
“We didn;t win the Cup but it as a good day” was Mark’s realistic sumup.
Now to Wednesday and another two year old he holds in high regard the Purdon family’s Captain Roy about whom Mark has some tickets on in the 1000m juvenile race.
“He’s my best chance.I am very pleased with him and confident he will go a big race”
Training a winner at Addington and Riccarton in Cup week is a rare event.
Rare events are a Mark Purdon speciality.
Pic: Chase a Dream and We Walk By Faith return to scale after a quinella in the Sires Stakes Final. Major Hot was third