Racing: Napoleon ready to conquer

There was a time when the champion trainer Barry Purdon, often in partnership with his father Roy, was the most feared trainer at the New Zealand Cup meeting, sending truckloads of winners south.

In the last two years Purdon has trained a slightly smaller team without a genuine superstar likes Holmes D G or the greats of the past, Chokin, Christopher Vance of Luxury Liner.

All of those horses were good enough to win the New Zealand Free-For-All and Purdon goes back to Addington today with another who can add to that list.

His name is Napoleon and while he may not have the reputation of the horses who raced in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday he is still the one they have to beat today.

Napoleon was kept out of Tuesday's cup because Purdon believed the 3200m was not ideal at this early stage of his first campaign after a career-threatening injury.

And also because he was looking ahead to a possible spot in the A$500,000 Miracle Mile in two weeks.

That ambition suffered a setback when he was a luckless fourth in the junior free-for-all on Tuesday but Purdon is unperturbed.

"He was unlucky but he felt great," he said.

"We couldn't get a gap at the top of the straight and then when I pulled him back for an inside run he threw his head in the air and lost a lot of momentum.

"But had he not done that he could have, and probably would have, won."

Napoleon has always been at his best over sprint trips and is ideally drawn at barrier two today.

That should ensure he stays handy to the pace and in a race that may lack mid-race challengers - especially if Just An Excuse leads or is parked - he has the finishing kick to win.

"I think he can and I still think he won't be out of place in the Miracle Mile," said Purdon.

"But we need to win this and that is why the draw is so important."

Purdon will take just three horses to today's meeting and thinks they all can win.

Helena Kilena has the draw to dominate some average mares in race 10 but his best chance is with Powerball in race seven.

The long-striding pacer has won both his starts since joining Purdon and looks headed for open class.

"It is hard to predict any horse is going to win on Show Day because the fields are so good but I am very confident with him," he suggested.

"It is nice to head back to Addington on one of these big days with a team of horses who can all win. It is not easy to do but I think they all have that chance today."

While Napoleon will be at backable each way odds in the free-for-all the field still has plenty of depth, although lacking cup favourites Mainland Banner and Mi Muchacho.

Just An Excuse is the horse to beat because he is drawn to stay handy and could lead or sit parked, from where driver Todd Mitchell can control the race.

If he manages to wrest the lead from Flying Sands it will take a wonderful performance to run him down.

Alta Serena was a touch unlucky in Tuesday's cup and is another who warrants automatic respect, although barrier seven makes her job a tricky one.

The sleeper in the race is London Legend, who ran on well for fifth in the NZ Cup over a distance further than his best.

He excels when coming from off the pace in a sprint race so if he can find luck today he will be very hard to beat.

Myron, who ran on well in the cup, is an upset hope while there will be plenty of interest in the performance of Baileys Dream.

He will be attempting to follow in the hoofprints of Mainland Banner as a four-year-old downing the older pacers but will have to overcome a horror draw to do so.

Today's meeting should be dominated by horses who excelled on the first day and could be a great one for big punters willing to take short odds.

Genius, Jays Debut, Dudinkas Cullen, Allegro Agitato, Powerball and Classic Cullen will all be close to odds-on and all look winners providing they have no bad luck.