12 months ago Michael Purdon and partner,Alison Ward, had a great trip to Kaikoura. MYSTIC MAX won the South Bays Trotting Cup for Michael and and Alison posted a milestone training win the previous day with TORNADO BANNER who she had patiently brought back to win form with a long prep.many had believed would never result to much.
Alison didn’ t have a runner this year but she was beaming her usual wide smile leading Mystic Max back for his first win since the same race last season- with Blair Orange in the cart as always and with a time three seconds faster than last year which suggests there is more to come.
That is how Michael was feeling 7 months ago. In a preparation that was always considered a prelude to beating the top line trotters a season later given his limited experience, Mystic Max ran fourth in the Worthy Queen handicap on Cup Day and the same spot in the Green Mile but was pulled up in the Trotting Free for All in December.
Resuming beaten a neck at the end of February and a meritorious 3rd in the Lamb and Hayward Classic he was end to Muscle Mountain in the G1 Trotting Championship before heading north for a rather disappointing northern campaign.
Michael had already had concerns about some aspects of Mystic Max’s preparation and his speed getting on to the case was a possible career saver.
“He had a suspensory issue.Luckily we caught it early and it wasn’t career threatening at that stage but it was serious enough. So it was a long time (October) before we got him back to the races.”
Only second start back Mystic Max was Group 1 placed in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup leading into Monday’s triumph so now he is poised to repeat last spring’s programme-but as a much stronger hope.
Rivals like Dad’s Oscar Bonavena and raging favourite wherever he goes, Just Believe,make it tough for a relatively inexperienced five year old but just having him back at winning level is a special thrill for all concerned.
Pic: Michael and Blari at Awards Night.Looking for a repeat visit