Don’t Stop Dreaming missing a trial last week could affect his return to racing in the Sires Stakes heat on Saturday but Nathan has taken precautions to minimise the risk.
He took a float load of horses into Addington on Monday to have a good hitout on the main track with the weather limiting the action on the home circuit in previous days.
“We’ve often done it often before. For him it was a chance to ease back to the racing environment and while we would have liked to have had an official trial he should be ok with that little trip” Nathan said
The champion two year old last season,Don’t Stop Dreaming has a busy programme ahead and will obviously improve with Saturday’s run.
Purdon Racing dominates the field with Final Collect, Ok Boomer and Vinke B also in action in an 8 horse field. What he lacks in seasoning he makes up for in class tho he could be vulnerable against seasoned stablemates if things went against him in the running having missed the trial at Rangiora.
Bollinger was not a confirmed starter early in the week ,under offer, but Michael has Mystic Max in the right order to strike second up.
” He went to Addington and Michael is pleased with the way he has come through his first up run and since” Nathan said “There are some handy ones in it but he is up to them and should only get better”
Michael has another string to his bow with the addition of No Matter Wat which he co-owns with Brian West to the $1m The Race with Grins field took many by surprise though the holders had indicated to the stable last week that if she raced well at Addington they would be interested in giving her the spot.
“She draws one of course and Tony (Herlihy) is the driver but perhaps I was a little surprised. I thought maybe the way he was going Bollinger might have had some appeal” Mark said.
Mark has no grand designs on the Free for All at Cambridge on Thursday with Akuta and Self Assured, the latter marking a return to big race driving for Natalie who will also be at Addington on Saturday.
“Look if Akuta was in the first three and Self Assured not far behind him we will be happy enough”
“As I see the race mapping Akuta will get the best run. He can get handy with luck from his draw while Self Assured will have to go back from his and that won’t make it easy for him. Both are well and have had no problems in the leadup”
The Sires Stakes heat will be a bigger ask for the team in blue and silver.
“Merlyn drawing one makes it very hard for ours. For a while there he couldn’t draw a marble and now he’s making up for it. So we just have to hope for the best there” Mark said.
With Style has blinkers on to aid his chances.
Meanwhile Vessem and Major Hot will tackle a time honoured Purdon stable feature the Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham on Thursday. All Stars has won the last five renewals of the race,nine of the last 11; the last two by Don’t Stop Dreaming and Akuta- so the pressure will be on,
Vessem won his debut for the the Imke B supporters first up and may be fave again but Major Hot, allowed to find his feet on his debut in the same race probably because of the ace draw, had a tricky possie midrail and came very strongly over the last bit to run 4th. One of either should win but there might not be much in it.With Blair engaged at Cambridge ,Kirstin Green takes the reins on Vessem.
PIC; Mystic Max Thursday, No Matter Wat in The Race. Busy time for Michael Purdon