Nathan Purdon to feature in big night at Alexandra Park

Pukekohe trainer Nathan Purdon thinks the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained Tour Party (Bettor’s Delight) will be very hard to roll in the $100,000 Group One Breckon Farms Cardigan Bay Stakes. Nevertheless he’s confident his two starters are not without a show.

“If he (Tour Party) spears up off the gate which we know he can and leads up without too much pressure, I think he should just win,” Purdon said.

Purdon has two runners in the two year old feature; Delany (Vincent) who draws two and Coal Fire (Art Major) who runs from the outside of the front row.

He says Delany had excuses when running ninth at his last start.

“We put a line through his last start in which he made a mistake. Dad got a flat tyre in the prior race and we had to use a different cart. He got quite keen when he had to let Zac Butcher’s horse go and he tapped the wheel a couple of times and that was enough to upset him.”

The inside draw should enhance Delany’s chances.

“He does have good gate speed too. He worked the best he’s ever worked on Monday morning, he’s jumping out of his skin, fit, bright and ready to go.”

Coal Fire (Art Major) hasn’t fared so well with his draw and has to contend with a wide draw and Tour Party drawing inside of him.

“I think it’s the best we’ve ever had him. We’ve been waiting, fluffing around with him and not stressing him out too much. He’s just raced on raw ability this preparation. We’ve screwed him down tight and he’s responded well. He’s a horse well above average but like I say Tour Party is going to be quite hard to beat.”

Nathan also has two runners in the Listed $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million for three year old fillies.

Wat Next (Art Major) had her last start at Addington during Cup Week.

“She’s a filly with quite a few niggles that have been hard to juggle at times. We didn’t think we could get to this race, but here we are. She’s bright and well, but it hasn’t been an ideal prep. Right now touch wood, she’s probably the soundest she’s ever been.”

His second runner Shezsofast (Vincent) draws the inside of the second row.

“She’s a filly that goes really well fresh because she’s quite athletic. She’s had one trial at Puke and we took her into Auckland for a private hit out last week. She didn’t go a crazy time but I don’t think she needs to. If she gets the right trip she’s a winning chance. I think she’s as good as any three year old filly I’ve seen so far.”

Lady Di (Captaintreacherous) represents the stable in the $100,000 Group One Gallagher Insurance Delightful Lady Classic.

“I think the horse of Dunns (Daisy Bay) will be really hard to beat from that one draw, but my filly is a classy filly and capable of making her own luck whenever she needs to. She’s fast enough. Dad (driver Mark Purdon) has got options and will drive her accordingly.”

Lady Di’s dam Princess Tiffany won this race in 2018.

The Listed $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million rounds out the age group features with Jumal, Freeze Frame and Allamericanplayer likely to fight out the finish.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

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