KEY POINTS:
Canterbury trainer Mark Purdon collected his third New Zealand Trotting Derby when Doctor Mickey scored an upset win at Addington last night.
Doctor Mickey, at odds of 24-1, outfinished the favourite Sovereignty to score by half a neck in the $75,000 group one race for 3-year-old trotters.
Purdon, these days training in partnership with Grant Payne, had previously won the race with Galleons Assassin (2006) and Dependable (2001).
Doctor Mickey only cleared maidens at Omakau in Central Otago in January when having his 10th start and had had only one further start when sixth at Ashburton on February 9.
Purdon had the Dr Ronerail gelding three back on the outer with a round (1200m) to go in the 2600m race.
Doctor Mickey unwound strongly over the concluding stages to get the better of Sovereignty who did well to cling on to a minor placing after being caught three wide over the last lap.
Half a length away third was second favourite Real Deal Yankee who fought well after trailing the leader The Ultimate Game most of the way.
Purdon said even at the top of the straight it was hard to be confident given Doctor Mickey's lack of recent racing.
"He really hasn't had the conditioning behind him," he said.
"When you look at the field there was some really nice horses in it.
"Three of them were in front of me [at the top of the straight] but he picked them up and rallied gamely."
- NZPA
