KEY POINTS:
Auckland Reactor had only been home about two minutes when Mark Purdon realised the champ wasn't interested in a break.
Which is terrible news for rival trainers in tomorrow's $75,000 Summer Cup at Addington, a rare day meeting at the premier southern track.
Trainer Purdon had decided to
take Auckland Reactor home after his arduous run when beaten for the first time at Cambridge two weeks ago.
On that occasion the great pacer lost 70m at the start and paced sub 2:55 sectionals for his last 2400m, a run which should have left him exhausted.
Instead, it just seemed to make him angry.
"I thought he would be tired after that race at Cambridge so I took him home to give him a few days off to get ready for the Auckland Cup," said Purdon.
"But when he got home he was jumping out of his skin.
"Vicki [Purdon's wife] was taking him from the truck to his paddock as soon as he got home and he was very fresh and was rearing and carrying on.
"She even had to return him to the stables to put a stallion bit on him."
And Auckland Reactor didn't calm down much after that.
"The next few days he was racing around his paddock, which he never does, and I realised he was better off having another race sooner rather than later."
So Auckland Reactor will return to Addington, perfectly drawn against the two horses who have pushed him closest in open class - Awesome Armbro (1) and Monkey King (8).
While the opposition is about as strong as it gets in New Zealand at the moment, the champ will still start around $1.20 on the tote and it is hard to see him beaten.
With his handy draw he should be able to stroll to the lead in a race which seems to have much mid-race pressure.
"With that draw I think he should win," says Purdon bluntly.
While there is little doubt Monkey King is the second best horse in tomorrow's race he could struggle to get the right cart into the finish, so Awesome Armbro appeals as the best quinella chance.
He should be sitting in the trail - if driver David Butcher does try to park out Auckland Reactor - and looks the most likely challenger.
That could provide a similar quinella as when Auckland Reactor was beaten, with Awesome Armbro's stablemate All Tiger downing him at Cambridge.
And Purdon thinks that could be the case in tomorrow's richest race, the $175,000 PGG Sales Series Pace.
Purdon goes into the race confident of a good showing from Arden's Darlin, drawn the ace, but has a lot of respect for Lauraella, who like Awesome Armbro and All Tiger is trained by Geoff Small.
"I am happy with my filly but I think Lauraella is the best filly in the country," said Purdon. "I think one of those two should win and they could even be in front and in the trail."
Purdon also rates Fiery Falcon a chance in the last race but once again fears a northerner, Tennis Ball.
"He is pretty good and has drawn inside us so will be hard to catch."
BACK IN TOWN
* Auckland Reactor is a shock entry for the Summer Cup tomorrow.
* Trainer Mark Purdon says a tough month has had little effect on the champ.
* Purdon also has a big hand in the day's $175,000 fillies pace with Arden's Darlin.
* Champion trotter Stig returns in the $75,000 feature trot.
