It had to happen sometime. But it is still a milestone.
For the first time in what seems a whole era, Mark Purdon will not attend the southern section of the New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred on Wednesday.
“Nathan had a good northern sale and will only have a few more to buy so I will be staying in the north this time” said Mark on Sunday. “I got what I wanted up here and we will be concentrating now on arranging the eucational process around our Auckland barn”
Nathan and Mark will train out of Pukekohe from a guide date of June 1 and the purchases in Auckland reflected that.
The southern National sale as been a flagstaff in the Mark Purdon career for more than three decades. His consistently amazing strike rate of superstars to buys is widely known and they have not always,or even mostly, been the top priced lots.
For several years Mark was reluctant to go over $100,000 for his clients based on winning potential while more generous pockets opened much wider,and while that has changed in recent years with stars like Akuta and Don’t Stop Dreaming as the market has boomed, value rather than price has always been his guideline. There is little doubt his astute observation of type and potential was the greatest of his yearling buying gifts. His record is astonishing-but you knew that already.
So far Mark has found the latest sale not too different from other recent years.
“The top prices are higher but there seemed like some good value further down. We got beaten on the Adore Me colt ($360,000) and the Bettor Twist colt (same-both dams trained at All Stars both bought by super spenders Stonewall Stud) ) which I thought were the standouts but that is all part of the sale ring.You set your limit and that’s usually it. Others we got we were pleased with what we had to pay and I am happy with our lot”
Mark did go beyond his budget for Don’t Stop Dreaming but only after he realised the market expectation was well above his original assessment and he moved quickly accordingly so keen to secure the colt
One of the notable buys for Mark on Saturday was the Majestic Son colt from Banana Smoothie -because it was bought for his other son Michael who is remaining in Canterbury when the rest of the stable moves north.
“I gave Michael a short list to choose from and I was really pleased when he went for this colt. He is the one I would have picked from the list.” The colt cost $50,000.Majestic Son of course sired another good Purdon trotter called Oscar Bonavena.
Mark also bought a What the Hill youngster for th same amount from the same vendor Graeme Rogerson.
He ceded to brother Barry who went to $240,000 for the best trotting colt likely to be on offer this year. He is by a son of European super stallion Ready Cash from a top class daughter of champion trotter La Cucharacha who came across the Tasman to give an emphatic edition of her class winning a Rowe Cup many years ago.
***Meanwhile some youngsters from last year’s sale will be appearing at the Rangiora trials on Monday. The entries are
Special Occasion- Captain Treacherous -Silvia colt raced by a Kennard Syndicate
River-Bettor’s Delight Lady Gilpin filly raced by Jean Feiss
Alecto- Bettor’s Delight -Time and Tide family, home-bred tracing to juvenile stars like Light and Sound
Streetcat-Lather Up -Idealindreams filly, homebred
Secret Wish-Bettor’s Delight-Secret Lotion filly from Studholme bloodstock a half-sister to Chase a Dream
****The Terang Cup is not a trophy Purdon Racing has especially coveted among their many Australian triumphs but it was gladly received when DON’T STOP DREAMING triumphed there on Friday night.It was a “tickover” run leading to the Miracle Mile meeting in the $A33,000 event in the hands of Kate Gath who went round to sit outside the pace at the bell. Don’t Stop Dreaming,raced by the estate of Ian Dobson with Dennis and Mark Dunford had a similar assignment last year on the same programme,but at Menangle which is a long way from Terang (population 2200). He is in charge of the accomplished Brooke Wilkins
Kate Gath also had a win on the night with a former star in family-trained Catch a Wave a Breeders Crown winner in sensational style as a two year old though these days set lesser tasks.
PHOTO: Mark celebrates with long standing stable patrons Glenys and Phil Kennard after their greatest Yearling Sales bargain, superstar Lazarus, has won the New Zealand Cup.
Brooke and Don’t Stop Dreaming -another win