Purdon believes Merlin's magic is about to return

It has been nearly 10 months since Merlin (Art Major) last won a race but harness racing co-trainer Barry Purdon hasn’t lost his faith in the $1.8 million earner.

And the multiple Group 1 winner won’t get many better chances to return to the winner’s circle than he does in the opener at Alexandra Park tonight (5.28pm).

Merlin and stablemate Better Knuckle Up will have their final lead-ups to the Go Media New Zealand Trotting Cup in tonight’s mobile mile, in which they are joined by returning stablemate Sooner The Bettor.

The latter is a short course specialist and something of the forgotten horse of New Zealand open class pacing, only resuming now as Purdon and training partner Scott Phelan were never going to aim him at the NZ Cup.

“He is forward for his return and has that great gate speed so he is going to be a factor and could be the early leader,” says Purdon of Sooner The Bettor.

But for all his speed and even after Better Knuckle Up easily beat Merlin with the advantage of a handicap head start in their last clash, Purdon says the stable star is still the horse to beat tonight.

“Merlin worked super here on Monday and feels like he is ready to win,” says Purdon.

“He is back to mobile racing tonight rather than being off 20m chasing the other horses like he has been.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are thrilled with how Better Knuckle Up has been racing and over a longer trip he would be really competitive with Merlin but I think this race on Friday stacks up better for Merlin.”

It actually looks very similar to the last race Merlin actually won, a four-horse 2200m mobile at Cambridge in January which he was able to lead from the outside of the front line and dictate the tempo, proving too quick over the last 400m for Akuta.

It wouldn’t surprise to see him attempt the same tonight if driver Zachary Butcher wants to give him some rein early, with it seeming unlikely Brooke Wilkins driving Sooner The Bettor would park out her stablemate if Butcher gets serious.

The race also sees the return of Chase A Dream for trainer Nathan Purdon.

He can be near impossible to follow but did beat Sooner The Bettor in a recent workout after returning from an Australian campaign in which he ran eighth in the Miracle Mile.

For all Chase A Dream’s talent it would surprise to see him win fresh-up tonight.

The Purdon/Phelan stable have Copy Book Landing (R2, No.5) as an obvious chance in the maiden trot while Field of Gold (R5, No.2) is a well-bred filly with a nice draw in an even two-year-old race.

Later on what is almost exclusively a mobile mile card at The Park exciting trotting filly Our Col (R6, No.7) faces a big task having to start outside the much improved Bolt For The Hill, the latter suited by the race conditions.

 

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand