Gate numbers are the challenge facing the Purdon pair of We Walk By Faith and Don’t Stop Dreaming at Menangle tomorrow.
Don’t Stop Dreaming has a challenge getting into the right position from Gate 6 (ballots out) and Mark is convinced he is in the right condition if he gets the right run.
“I can’t fault either of them. I was a little disappointed with Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Chariots though he went a good race. I just expected a little more late even with the 53 last half.There was nothing amiss with him,maybe he just had an off night.His progress since has been fine.He is certainly able to be in it if it works out”
Mark is unsure how the race will unfold early.
“We’ve got gate speed but they will go hard from wider out and I would expect Spirit of St Louis to be holding them out early so hard to predict exactly what will happen. Hi Manameisjeff is drawn inside us and I am sure will go for the front though it’s not certain to me he will get there.
I regard him as the one to beat ahead of Leap To Fame overall.”
Hi Manameisjeff has a 1.48.6 mile in the bank at the track at his last start.
That is not the end of Mark’s speculation
“Barry’s horse Sooner the Bettor has gate speed too and will be going forward. I just hope I take the right option early and slot in somewhere handy. I wouldn’t underrate him if it all turns out. I can’t fault his condition.
The ace draw We Walk By Faith has in the Derby is not all it might be even though he is an odds on shot on the NZ TAB
“There will be some coming around as they do and we will probably get beaten out of the gate.I will be looking to get off the rail early so we don’t get trapped too far back and don’t get a chance.
It’s a Derby field but not a vintage one when you look back at some of the horses we have won it with but that means you have to be wary of a few runners even though we know our horse has the class to win.
One that that worries me is Sergeant Lou. Not sure where he qualified for the final because he wasn’t in the heats but he looks a likely sort and from a different form line.”
Sergeant Lou has won his last three the latest the Simpson Memorial,a Group Three event of $A50,000 at Menangle on Feb. 17th in 1.51.5.
“We Walk By Faith has been fine this week and it wasn’t a hard race in the heat. He will be very hard to beat but I just hope it works out for us early.”
Dennis Dunford, a co-owner of both horses, is up for the thrill of a racing lifetime if both come out on top. In We Walk By Faith he has the best horse in the Derby field so the daring double is on.