By MICHAEL GUERIN
Bogan Fella is a lesson in loyalty.
And it is a lesson that could pay harness racing's ultimate dividend in a fortnight.
The little horse with the funny body and ridiculous name has emerged as a leading New Zealand Cup hope after his win in the Kaikoura Cup yesterday.
For Bogan Fella this is not new territory.
He was one of the favourites for the great race last season and produced an under-rated performance for third after being parked for the last lap.
But that is one of the stories of Bogan Fella's career. Almost good enough. And the almost horses don't get the glory.
Bogan Fella also has an Auckland Cup and Interdominion Grand Final placing to go with that Cup effort last season but has yet to win one of the big three.
And in between times he has provided trainer Mark Purdon with his share of challenges. That is the other story of his career, the story of opportunities missed.
As a 3-year-old he was good enough to win a New Zealand Derby but his talent for winning races was surpassed by his talent for picking up annoying viruses and complaints.
Purdon believed Bogan Fella was worth waiting for so was patient, picking when to travel with the gelding, teaching him to handle the rigours of open class racing.
It worked, with a win in the $A150,000 Ben Hur in Sydney last year.
Then last season when he looked primed to finally break through for that elusive big one he sprained a suspensory ligament as the richest Interdoms ever loomed. For an ageing gelding without a lot of speed, it was going to be a long road back.
But that is when Purdon's loyalty shone brightest. He never doubted Bogan Fella would make it back.
When he started back at the trials and was well beaten by lesser equines, Purdon said he needed racing.
When he started his season by running down the track in his first two runs, Purdon said just wait a little longer.
It is a loyalty born not only out of knowledge but out of admiration.
"I admire him because he does it on heart," said Purdon.
"He isn't very big and doesn't have really high speed but he has a big heart. And that is why he will be a chance in the Cup because he is one of the few in the race who can make his own luck."
That was the case yesterday after Bogan Fella settled near last before looping the field to lead at the bell.
He was hotly challenged and nearly headed by Yulestar, who followed him around the field and sat parked, before digging deep and actually win going away again at the line.
Yulestar should have earned Cup favouritism with his run on a track that definitely didn't suit his giant stride, while Stars And Stripes was a game but fairly beaten third ahead of Mac De Stroyer, who stuck on well and looks an improver.
But it was Bogan Fella's day and Purdon expects the same horse who challenged him yesterday to be the thorn in his side come Cup day.
"I was impressed by Yulestar today and last week at Ashburton and he is the horse we have to beat in the Cup."
The win saw Bogan Fella shorten to $7 for the Cup, with Holmes D G narrowly retaining favouritism at $4 from Yulestar at $4.50. Those odds, however, are affected by the strong support for Holmes D G in the last week and Yulestar could start favourite on Cup day.
The victory was the first leg of a double for Purdon with veteran trotter Buster Hanover sitting parked before taking out yesterday's feature trot.
He just held out Major Decision, with the winner's stablemate Sundon's Way an unlucky fifth after never getting clear.
But one in-form star who will not be representing Purdon at the Cup carnival is rugged mare Hawera.
She leaves for the United States today after being sold.
Racing: Loyalty to Bogan Fella could pay big dividends
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.