Racing: Punt up on Purdon runners

Canterbury horseman Mark Purdon may be set to unleash one of the strongest group one assaults seen in this country at two different tracks tonight but his dream team faces its share of nightmares.

Purdon will produce favoured runners in a remarkable five feature races at Addington and Alexandra Park tonight, including the favourites in all three group one pacing races.

The biggest guns in his awesome arsenal include Russley Rascal and Kotare Mach in the $250,000 Christian Cullen Derby at Addington, Major Mark in the $80,000 Welcome Stakes and Collectable and Highview Ebony in the $138,000 Caduceus Club Classic at Alexandra Park.

Purdon also has powerful feature-race support in Lancome and Secret Potion in the Nevele R Fillies heat at Alexandra Park and I Can Doosit, who steps up to the open-class trotting ranks in the Trotting Championships at Addington.

Purdon says it is an array of talent most trainers could only dream of.

"It would have to be one of the strongest teams I have ever lined up on one day, especially at two different tracks," he told the Herald.

"But these races are never easy to win."

Purdon is especially worried about his two glamour boys, Russley Rascal and Major Mark, who he believes face tricky draws at Addington.

That may sound strange when you consider Russley Rascal, who was brilliant in the Woodlands Derby a month ago, has drawn three tonight.

But that is outside the horse Purdon fears most in Sir Lincoln, the most likely early leader.

"He [Sir Lincoln] is a very good horse, very strong and I am sure they will be trying for an all-the-way win.

"If he gets an easy time in front then even a horse as good as Russley Rascal might struggle to catch him."

Both pacers ooze X-factor, with Russley Rascal the big mover in the 3-year-old ranks, his only defeats coming when he has been unlucky.

Sir Lincoln has also been freakish at his best and should be massively improved by his last-start second in the Flying Stakes when he was still recovering from a virus.

The key to the race could be the start, because if either Five Star Anvil (two) or Kotare Mach (seven) gets across the headstrong Sir Lincoln at the start the complexion will change dramatically.

If they can't, then Russley Rascal is going to need a great drive from Blair Orange to beat Sir Lincoln.

The field has plenty of depth, with Courage To Rule having already beaten Sir Lincoln in the Victoria Derby and he unwound a blistering last 800m to win at Cambridge last Thursday. While the Derby start will be pivotal, the early stages of the $80,000 Welcome Stakes will be just as important for favourite Major Mark.

The colt has looked something special on occasions this season but also has some tricks which have cost punters a fortune on two occasions.

He has drawn one on the second line tonight which has Purdon worried.

"That is the one draw I didn't want and while I think he is the best horse in the race I can see him getting beaten.

"He can get very funny early and I will be trying to get away from the markers as soon as possible but it won't be easy in a big field."

That could make impressive youngster The Muskeg Express a good each-way chance.

Purdon is looking north with greater confidence though when Collectable looks to remain unbeaten in a wonderful Caduceus Club Classic.

She has looked awesome in all three starts but has drawn outside the very smart Bettor Cover Lover.

"Barrier seven will make it hard and this is a good field but she is a filly I really like and the 2200m will suit. I definitely rate her [Collectable] the best of our three chances in that race."

Purdon is not so sure what to expect in race six, where Lancome and Northern Oaks winner Secret Potion clash with the classy De Lovely.

Lancome looks perfectly suited by barrier one over the 1700m but has De Lovely drawn to sit on her back so it wouldn't surprise to see Lancome hand any early lead away to Secret Potion. "It will be an interesting race and to be honest I can't pick between my two because Lancome will love the draw and distance."

PURDON'S DREAM TEAM

ADDINGTON
* Race six, Welcome Stakes, 8.21pm: Major Mark, Ohoka's Bondy.
* Race eight, NZ Derby, 9.21pm: Russley Rascal, Kotare Mach.
* Race nine, NZ Trotting Champs, 9.4: I Can Doosit.

ALEXANDRA PARK
* Race six, Nevele R Fillies heat, 8.31: Lancome, Secret Potion.
* Race eight, Caduceus Club Classic, 9.31: Collectable, Highview Ebony, Minnie Moose.