Racing: One speed machine and one stayer

Barry Purdon is going into tomorrow's Auckland Cup in two minds - depending on which horse he is thinking about.

The man who has ruled the Auckland Cup winner's circle for nearly two decades has two representatives in the 3200m thriller and they couldn't be more different.

Speed machine Napoleon will be the more favoured of his pair, with Imagine That the better stayer.

"Imagine That would be better suited by a hot pace which made it a survival of the fittest," said Purdon.

"But for Napoleon I am hoping that they go around 4:4 or 4:5 speed. I suppose you could say I have an option either way."

While neither horse rates up with some of Purdon's champions who have won the race - among them millionaires Luxury Liner (twice), Chokin (twice) Christopher Vance and Holmes D G - they are both upset hopes tomorrow because the field lacks a genuine superstar.

"These races are never easy to win but I think both of ours at least come into the race fit and healthy and have their chance without horses like Elsu in the race."

Napoleon, who finished fourth to Elsu in the cup two years ago, rounded out his preparation with a fighting second to Lord Vader in the Summer Cup last Friday and is drawn to get a similar trailing passage tomorrow.

"He has high speed and I was happy with his run last week because he didn't stop fighting.

"If he can step away and sit handy to them he will be in the finish."

Imagine That has already proved she can win at the elite level this season, taking the Kaikoura Cup on October 31 over race rivals tomorrow in Harnetts Creek and Bobs Blue Boy.

She had no luck when getting back in last Friday's Queen Of Hearts before staging a big run over the last lap for fourth.

"She doesn't have blazing speed but not a lot of horses in the Cup this year do.

"But she is very game and will follow any pace so I think she can surprise if she gets a good trip."

Securing that trip won't be an easy task for young driver Scott Phelan as Imagine That has drawn the second line, a big disadvantage for a mare still new to open class.

"It doesn't look ideal but we thought that in the Oaks on Tuesday with Cruzee Lass and she finished second.

"Sometimes in the big staying races being out of the early rush can be a good thing."

So who does the man who has won more Auckland Cups than anybody think will triumph tomorrow.

"The two hardest to beat have to be Alta Serena and Howard Bromac.

"Alta Serena is at the top of her game at the moment while Howard Bromac is proven in the big races so it is hard to go past those two."

* Purdon warns punters not to drop Blackbird Fly after her Oaks failure on Tuesday night.

The class filly faded to sixth after leading and trailing over the 2700m but reverts to a sprint trip in race 10 tomorrow.

"They were going hard in the middle stages on Tuesday and we had worked more than most of them early," said Purdon.

"The way the draws have worked out she might get a nice trail this time and could bounce back."