Mark Purdon had a wonderful day out yesterday, bringing a few of his Kiwi stars to Victorian soil.
Further heats of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series were held at two venues in Victoria on Wednesday June 19 – Yarra Valley hosting the third heat for three-year-old colts and geldings and the third and fourth heats for four-year-old entires and geldings all over 2150 metres in the afternoon, while Bendigo presented the fifth and sixth Heats for both two-year-old colts and geldings and fillies over 2150 metres at the night session.
Christchurch-based Mark Purdon landed the three-year-old division at Yarra Valley with Ashburton (Jewels) record holder Border Control, a gelded son of Bettors Delight and Contrapan in a mile rate of 1-59.1.
Despite racing in the open from gate two outside the smart Ginger Bliss, Border Control was unextended in winning by 1.2 metres, with Goodtime Veejay (one/one) third.
Clyde trainer Jayne Davies’ most reliable Bettors Delight/Tyalla gelding Baccarat scored a somewhat upset victory in the third heat for four-year-old’s.
Given the run of the race from the pole trailing Charlie Machsheen (gate two) with the favourite Keayang Steamer trapped three wide for the majority of the journey, Baccarat used the sprint lane to nose out Charlie Machsheen in a tricky finish, returning a mile rate of 1-58.1, with Keayang Steamer producing a giant effort to be a half-head away in third place.
Heat four went the way of Daylesford trainer Mick Barby’s well above average It Is I/Glenlyon Glad gelding It Is Billy in what was a career best performance.
Driven by wife Anne-Maree Conroy, It Is Billy began a lot better than usual from gate two, but was unable to head off Machin Out inside him, resulting in him being left in the open.
Pouring on the pressure in the last lap, It Is Billy surged away to lead into the straight, defying all challengers to score impressively by 3.9 metres in advance of Metro Mike (one/two – three wide last lap) and Scruffy Major which followed the runner up throughout. The mile rate 1-57.
It was the Mark Purdon show at Bendigo, with the champion Kiwi horseman taking both two-year-old colts and geldings divisions.
Art Major/Mesmerizing colt Messini bred by the Caldow’s and John Kelly cruised to the wire in the fifth Heat.
Beaten for speed from the pole by Real Character (gate four), Purdon was quick to ease Messini away from the markers as Motor Smoker driven with aggression by Gavin Lang assumed control leaving Loong Nien in the open until the bell when Paua Fella was sent forward by Matt Craven to park out for the final circuit.
While all this was going on, Messini was enjoying a cosy passage three back in the moving line. Asked for an effort approaching the home turn, Messini quickly gathered in his rivals to score by 6.6 metres in 1-57.4 over Master Mach Manus from near last, with Paua Fella 12 metres away in third place.
Stablemate Zacharia, a colt by Courage Under Fire from Atom Queen, toyed with his rivals in the sixth Heat.
Starting from inside the second line, Zacharia was able to follow the polemarker and hot favourite Bespoke Artist as the mobile gate pulled away, enjoying a nice run throughout the race.
Easing around the leaders at the straight entrance, Zacharia charged away in the home running to register a 3.7 metre victory in 1-59.7 over the Mt Gambier hope Major Cruiser (one/one) which joined the leader on the home turn, with Bespoke Artist 5.1 metres in arrears of the pair in third place.
Heat five for the fillies was taken out by the David Aiken (Avenel)-trained Quick Draft a daughter of Art Major and Quick Comment.
With Chris Alford in the sulky, Quick Draft starting solo on the second row positioned three back in the running line, with the red-hot favourite Manellira leading from gate three.
Moving swiftly to be four wide on the final bend, Quick Draft joined Manellira on straightening, with the pair going head and head to the wire, Quick Draft did best to score by 2.1 metres in 2-00.3. Milly Perez finished third 20.1 metres away after trailing the pacemaker.
Avenel part-owner/breeder/trainer/driver Ian Montgomery has a tremendous strike rate and produced Real Desire/Beach Froi filly Mistical Pearl on debut to land the sixth heat in a rate of 2-02.
Not bustled from gate four, Mistical Pearl was given every chance one/one, with the heavily backed Fon Design leading from gate three.
Easing three wide on the home turn, Mistical Pearl proved too strong at the finish for Fon Design, scoring by a head only, with Im All Show third after following the leader.
