As the Kiwi contenders line up to defend New Zealand Cup honours against invading Aussies next week AKUTA is ready to stake his claim in the Kaikoura Cup he won two years ago come Monday.
Mark Purdon was happy with his placed run in the Flying Stakes and says he has trained tops since.
“He needed that run at Ashburton after missing a race so it wasn’t the sort of performance we might have looked for from our Cup candidates in the past. I am expecting him to make top two all going well and he is in the right form to win it”
The Purdon team has had to revise schedules and performances after being affected by a virus earlier in the spring which set Akuta back with the Kaikoura Cup taking the role the Flying Stakes might have in other circumstances.
Mark regards Merlin,co-trained by brother Barry as the hardest to beat.
“Some of his runs have been below his peak but I understand they are happier with how he’s shaping lately so he should be hard to beat. I think their other runner Sooner the Bettor is a likely pace setter so tactics will be interesting. If e step well enough to lead though I won’t be looking to hand it up.He’s in a good place”
As his last public hitout before the Cup Akuta can be expected to nail his colours to the mast with a standout performance and he is in the right condition to do it.
Then it is up to OSCAR BONAVENA to uphold what may be a stable double in the South Bay Trotters Cup if he can overcome the 15m handicap.
“That is the question” Mark says
“It is a big field and a few who like to run along and that makes it hard at Kaikoura. I wouldn’t want to be working too hard too far out if the speed is hot but he seems very well in himself. The way the race is run will be the key to his win chances but he is ready to go”
Mark said that INCENTIVISE has joined Purdon Racing having being bought by foundation owners at All Stars, Freddie Tong and Warren Pengelly with Mark joining the partnership. Formerly with Ross Houghton at Dancingonmoonlight Farm where the Purdon team is based, Incentivise faded from the parked position at Ashburton from a tough gate but has built a smart record through the spring.
“He was under offer to Australia but they weren’t that happy with the veterinary report.It turned out the problem seemed a minor one so we decided to make an offer”
Special Occasion the highest rated juvenile in the stable has returned north for a spell after failing to recover his best form after suffering a virus setback in September. He faded right out at Ashburton but Mark says that after studying the tapes the team were not as disappointing as at first glance.
“Our two year old filles both had bad gates and the track on the day seemed to strongly favour the on speed horses.There wasn’t a lot coming from the back.Usually there are more winners coming from off the pace there”
Four of the team will be running at the Cup Trials on Wednesday at Addington leading into what looks a most intriguing Cup Day next week.
PIC: Incentivise works outside Special Occasion at Addington.One replaces the other in the immediate racing squad