By Michael Guerin
There were times it seemed Pride Of Petite could do anything.
Overcome a 50m handicap to win an Interdominion Grand Final. No problem. Take on world's toughest trotters after travelling halfway around the world. No problem.
Stop shaking like a leaf in her stall on race night - problem.
Because while Pride Of Petite is the queen of the track, she is the pussy of the stabling area.
After 141 starts and an Australasian record $804,816 in stakes, The Pride drops out of harness racing at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The Grand Final should be her last race. And the last time Mark Purdon lovingly watches his tiny champion go through her pre-race shaking ritual.
The shaking has been as much a part of Pride Of Petite as the great wins and even greater ovations.
"She has always done it. She just stands in her stall before a race shaking. I don't know if she is nervous or excited," said Purdon.
But if Pride Of Petite can pull off a miracle and win her third Grand Final then Purdon admits he will be shaking too.
To win one more time though Pride Of Petite has to beat a hot shot field. And Mother Nature.
At 11 she is over twice the age of the three young gun favourites on Friday night - her own stablemate Sundon's Way, Special Force and Mountain Gold.
"I felt terrible when she drew the outside barrier because that makes it very tough for her. I would have loved her to have drawn close and been a big winning show."
Now Purdon admits the younger trotting stars may have the legs on Pride Of Petite.
While she may not be able to rough it with the youngsters anymore, her 1:57.4 record mile last Friday showed her incredible will to win is still there.
It was just like when she overcame a 50m handicap and arch-rival Wagon Apollo to win the 1997 Grand Final in Adelaide. Or when she qualified for the rich Elitlopp Final against the best trotters in the world in 1996.
"She hasn't been quite that good this season but she has never stopped trying in her races," said Purdon.
"So to win in national record time last week in front of her home crowd was wonderful. I mean, I have won races worth a lot more money than that but not many were as special to me personally."
Now retirement looms. But before then The Pride will try for one more moment of magic.
And if she can pull this one off, it won't only be her and Purdon who will be shaking. It will be the whole of Alexandra Park.
Horse Racing: Pride giving Grand Final a shake
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