Purdon was initially going to head to Victoria to prepare both Princess Tiffany and stablemate Jesse Duke this week and drive both in their finals.
But Jesse Duke looked a tired horse when he dropped out in his semifinal on Saturday and missed his final so the Harness Jewels winner will have a spell and be sent to North America for new trainer Chris Ryder.
"I was going to go over but Poi [travelling foreman Matt Bowden] has got her right and Luke has been very good driving for us so I am happy to leave him on," said Purdon.
"So we will stay home where we have a big team and concentrate on them and watch the race on TV."
Princess Tiffany's form roller-coaster over the last fortnight has summed up her season where her best has been brilliant but her worst average, with Belle Of Montana usurping her as our best filly.
Ironically, if Princess Tiffany wins this Saturday and adds the Crown to her NSW Oaks win she might be voted Australia's best filly even though she isn't ours.
Meanwhile, Purdon's big-name stars like Thefixer, Spankem, Chase Auckland and Ultimate Sniper are working down well to a trials resumption early next month and to start racing in October as the prepare for the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Inter Dominions.
As for the Crown at Melton on Saturday night, New Zealand also has favourites in 2-year-old male trotter Ultimate Stride and 3-year-old trotting filly Liberty Stride while the A$300,000 male juvenile pace draws have fallen perfectly for Zeuss Bromac and Perfect Stride who can now test the favoured locals.
Crowning glory
• The rich Breeders Crown finals are at Melton in Victoria on Saturday night.
• New Zealand-trained horses are favoured to win three of the finals.
• Trainer Mark Purdon has gifted the drive on red-hot favourite Princess Tiffany to Luke McCarthy.
