It is a farewell of sorts for Mark Purdon at Alexandra Park though his view is that it is a seamless transition.
The most successful trainer in harness racing, whose feats will probably only be fully appreciated in the future much as we treasure other great sportsmen of past eras more as time goes on, he is not retiring but this is another big step back he planned long ago.
“I will still be driving regularly and will have my own small team so I see it as a another natural stage of my career and I am looking forward to that”
“As I have said not being in partnership really means less pressure to be travelling to Auckland (from Matamata) unless I am required and I will be there to help Nathan any way I can if and when needed. I did consider doing this last year but concluded another season would be better for Nathan with his shift north and extra travelling. And I will still be helping with the yearling selection of course”
Times change and records do too but Mark’s stakes earning feats in partnership with Grant, Natalie, Hayden and Nathan make spectacular reading. The leading trainer this season is unlikely to reach $3m a feat Mark made at least 7 times in a little over 10 years and often over $4m -without counting the host of Group One wins in Australia most seasons which could add $1m easily to the stable total. In one season the stable reached $6m in stakes won.The most recent $3m+ one was Mark in partnership with Nathan two years ago and only brother Barry has done it since.And this in an era of major stake increases and Slot Races etc.
Even this year the stable is likely to top $1.5m from less in New Zealand than 220 starters and a 3.5 UDR rate-another hallmark of Mark Purdon’s fantastic success over the years.
An example was 2016 the second most successful season for All Stars Stables with 131 wins. Its UDR rating was over 5 from stakes won of nearly $4m. The records go on-and on
But the limelight has never been a sought after place for Mark Purdon and he won’t miss that part of the many challenges successful trainers face. But he might just become a better golfer.
“I have tried it on and off but now I would like to give more time to it” says the son of an international golfing star mother who selflessly retired at her peak to devote time to family.
So can he supply a winner for the partnership in its farewell fling ?
Mark is often deliberate in his public statements but asked about the best tonight and the answer is fired back.
“Oscar”
“I have just the three drives and I think he is the best of them”
“Akuta, I can’t fault on his work.He does everything you ask and does it well,has no problems in his buildup.But I did just ask the question at the Cup meeting whether he had come back to where he was and whether he could. I will keep him going through the summer in New Zealand and at the end of autumn racing we will make a decision. It is very hard for any horse who has had a major injury to get back to his previous elite level. Most don’t.We knew that even though his was not a stress injury. With lesser class horses with ability it is easier but they have to be 100 per cent to do it against the best.”
“Oscar seems to be doing well and the conditions of the race (mobile v 20m stand last time) suit him.There is not a lot of depth among our open class trotters at the moment.That doesn’t mean any of the races are easy to win but it probably gives him his best chance if he does things right.”
At $2.80 and in spite of big danger posed by favourite Mighty Logan likely to get his own way in front,vintage Oscar with that devastating sprint would be a grand end to the season and especially for the partnership.
His other drive Look To Da Stars is more problematical but Mark did agree with Nathan’s assessment that a cast shoe for an unpredictably gaited trotter was a fair excuse last time.
“He was trotting fine up until then. It was a genuine excuse”
The Purdon name has dominated elite class racing from the time Mark struck out on his own in 1995 adding another string to the family bow. Barry, then and still a superb horseman, led the way for the next generation as the brothers went on to lead the industry nation wide. The Purdon family were no overnight successess in harness racing but when they struck they struck big time.
Now Mark hands the baton to Nathan who probably has slightly different aspirations in a changed harness world but the talent to achieve whatever he sets as a target.
In the time ogether over the years, while other stars have come and gone, Oscar Bonavena has been a constant companion, one nursed through numerous setbacks to be a veteran and yet still star.As big a tribute to training skills as you will ever see.
So if he is able to pull out a winning turn tonight it will underline a truly special occasion.
But still, a farewell to an amazing era.