Gold; Mark Purdon with one of several trophies won by his champion trotter I Can Doosit throughout the 2011/12 Grand Circuit season.
The horse affectionately known as “Lucky” also has the honour of being the best trotter in the southern hemisphere.
With the title of Grand Circuit champion safely in his keeping for the 2011/12 season, I Can Doosit was aiming for back-to-back victories while looking to extend his current winning sequence to twelve.
I Can Doosit again demonstrated his never-ending talent after crushing his rivals in the Gr.1 $NZ150,000 Canam Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park, Auckland defeating Springbank Richard and Dr Hook in 3200m stand start event.
In the 94th running of the famed feature, I Can Doosit became the 11th trotter to record dual success in the famed North Island trotting feature.
“He's a champion, well I think he is and it was another great effort tonight.” Winning driver Mark Purdon beamed immediately after the race.
I Can Doosit officially scored by 6 ¼ lengths while recording a mile rate of 2;03.2.
“It's been a wonderful season; he's still very young so it's very exciting looking to the future with him.
“He travelled very well outside the leader after I made my move mid-race but he relaxed perfectly, it was a good clip but he felt strong.
“He's off to the paddock now for a well earned break before being set for the Dominion in November.”
The Dominion Handicap is one race that has eluded the champion trotter thus far during his glittering career.
The Mark Purdon/Grant Payne trained 6yo gelding collected 5 Grand Circuit victories this season.
Here is a quick review of the Trotting Grand Circuit 2011/12 season.
The Gr.1 $NZ80,000 Seelite Windows & Doors NZ Trotting FFA at Addington, Christchurch officially kicked off the season on November 8 with the locally trained Vulcan proving to be a giant killer downing Sovereignty and Musgrove in the 2600m mobile start feature.
Considered to be a rookie on the 'Grand Circuit' this season, Vulcan proved it was the start of better things to come while being handled perfectly by master reinsman Anthony Butt for his brother and trainer Tim.
The mile rate was 2;01.6.
The second leg of the season continued with action at Addington again, the $NZ200,000 Hellers Dominion and rising star Vulcan proved his NZ Trotting FFA victory was no fluke with a narrow yet impressive win over Dr Hook and Clover Don in the 3200m stand start feature event.
Again, Anthony Butt drove a inch perfect race to claim the feature double in Christchurch while race favourite I Can Doosit could only manage fifth placing.
The mile rate was 2;03.8.
Action headed to Australia for the third leg of the season with the $50,000 Independent Portable Buildings Trotters Mobile being the feature over the flying mile on the spacious track at TABCORP Park, Menangle.
Rising talent Chris Lang Jnr. produced a trained to the minute Miss Warbucks to land the prize defeating Coolmaine and Aleppo Sunrise in a mile rate of 1;58.6.
Race favourite Sundons Gift weakened to fourth after leading.
It was a victory of firsts because it was Miss Warbucks maiden Group One success while it was also the first Group training success for Lang Jnr., the son of premier horseman Chris Snr.
The Circuit now headed to Melbourne for the running of the $60,000 Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Mile at Cranbourne.
Veteran gelding Will Trapper provided a massive upset beating race favourite I Didn't Do It with Aleppo Sunrise running another good race for third in a mile rate of 2;00.4.
Trained by John Noonan, the Keystone Salute gelding overcame recent injury issues to win the feature for star young driver Nathan Jack.
The $250,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix at TABCORP Park, Melton was the next leg of the Grand Circuit and the enigmatic trotter I Didn't Do It put his best hoof forward defeating Sundons Gift and Will Trapper.
Trained by Merv Williamson and handled by Jodi Quinlan, the Sundon gelding proved to be a decisive winner in a mile rate of 2;00.4 for the 2240m in the mobile event.
I Didn't Do It is raced in partnership by Williamson and Michael Taranto of Seelite Windows & Doors.
The action then returned to New Zealand with the running of the $NZ80,000 Seelite Windows & Doors National Mobile Trot at Alexandra Park, Auckland and star trotter I Can Doosit continued with his excellent form winning the 2700m feature comfortably from The Fiery Ginga and Stylish Monarch.
I Can Doosit headed into the event winning his past two starts and started as a clear favourite, the Muscles Yankee gelding recorded a mile rate of 2;02.3.
The $250,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Inter Dominion Grand Final at TABCORP Park, Melton on February 4 elevated I Can Doosit to legendary status after going back-to-back following his brilliant triumph last year in Auckland.
I Can Doosit swept through the heats undefeated and started as a pronounced favourite for the rich final and scored easily from Vulcan and Sovereignty in a mile rate of 2;00.4 for 2760m mobile feature.
Trained in partnership by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, I Can Doosit is raced by his breeders Ken and Karen Breckon.
The $50,000 V L Dullard Cup at TABCORP Park, Melton proved to be another feature race victory for gun New Zealand trotter Vulcan.
The Tim Butt trained star scored convincingly in the hands of stand-in driver John Caldow downing fellow countrymen Stylish Monarch while Miss Warbucks filled third placing.
Vulcan recorded a stunning mile rate of 1;58.5 for the 2760m mobile event.
The victory was Vulcan's third on the Grand Circuit this season.
Action returned to Addington, Christchurch for the $NZ80,000 Gary Thompson/Fred Shaw NZ Trotting Championship and I Can Doosit steam rolled his rivals again to score easily defeating Jaccka Jack and Clover Don in a mile rate of 2;01.7 for the 2600m mobile event.
I Can Doosit was able to go one better after finishing a close second last season behind Stylish Monarch.
The inaugural running of the $NZ200,000 Glenferrie Farms ANZAC Cup at Alexandra Park, Auckland proved to be another feature race victory for champion trotter I Can Doosit and Mark Purdon.
The 6yo gelding finished with a booming sprint to grab Dr Hook and Raydon in a mile rate of 1;59.8 for the 2200m mobile event.
Congratulations to all who competed during another highly entertaining and successful Grand Circuit Trotting season.
We look forward to the new season of open class Grand Circuit Trotting in 2012/13.
