What many expected to be a special occasion on Friday at Addington turned out to be a very disappointing occasion for the Purdon stable when the youngster with that name flopped in a Sires Stakes heat at short odds. Flopped seems a strong word but it just about fits the performance give the two year old’s lead up work.
What happened ? Nobody could put a finger on it. Post race testing revealed nothing obvious amiss. So Special Occasion was back at Addington on Monday morning for a further investigation.
After Friday’s race Mark was of the opinion it was a “turn the page” effort and he was even more convinced after the youngster ran over 2400m on Monday with a galloping pacemaker.
“He’s come home in 27 flat” said Mark “there’s nothing much wrong with that”
So turn the page it is with the $200,000 Harness Millions on Friday being the acid test if all goes well during the week
RUBIRA and OSCAR BONAVENA had a GP to aid in their more serious 2400 with a 3.10 target. Rubira a candidate for the $100,000 Flying Stakes (G1) on Friday pleased Mark with his fractions.
“He’s come home in 27.6 and felt really good. He’s going along well ”
Akuta bowled over 3200 at Addington Monday
AKUTA was part of the convoy set a rather easier 4.25 for 3200m with a GP surging well late. He will now start on Friay in a race he won two years ago on the way to the Cup.He went on to the Flying Stakes and Kaikoura Cup then but the programmed now will probably be the Canterbury Classic on the 17th at Addington and the Flying Stakes a week later.
“That will probably do him but we will make a decision after those races” he said