Racing: Purdon reaches for the sky

Sheemon (right) mowed Stent down last Friday night and will be hard to beat in the Rowe Cup. Photo / Stuart McCormick

The mountain Sky Major must climb to win his record third Harness Jewels keeps becoming higher.

Unless the multiple group one-winning star can overcome a second-line draw in the Messenger at Alexandra Park on Friday his Jewels dream may be over.

As winners of the 2- and 3-year-old Jewels finals the past two seasons, Sky Major and Venus Serena are each looking to become the first three-time Jewels champs next month.

Whereas Venus Serena has already safely punched her ticket for the $1.2 million day at Ashburton on May 30, Sky Major has virtually no New Zealand earnings this season and is chasing a Jewels stakes cutoff of about $35,000 by May 17.

He was luckless but brave in the Taylor Mile last Friday but now faces giving all his major rivals a start in the $100,000 Messenger at Friday's Alexandra Park meeting.

Trainer Barry Purdon isn't pushing the panic button but admits the Jewels are getting further away.

"The second-line draw this week doesn't worry me greatly because I think he is actually better following the speed," said Purdon.

"That is how he has won the two Jewels and the 2700m means he will get his chance this week. But it is a good field and he needs sommoney soon to be a Jewels chance.

"Still, if he can't get there then there isn't much we can do about it and good horses like him get a lot of chances in their careers so we won't be going silly chasing a spot."

With Border Control (3) and Ohoka Punter (1) drawn well they look set to open the Messenger favourites, with Dalton Bromac's trainer Brendon Hill adamant his star will be a better horse for his sixth in the Taylor Mile as well.

"He was blowing very hard after the race so maybe I stuffed his training up," said Hill.

While Sky Major faces a huge battle to make it to Ashburton, stablemate Ideal Belle's second last Friday in a mares' race takes her to $12,000 in earnings on the Jewels table and if she was to win her $20,000 standing start this Friday she would be close to the $24,000 threshold for the 4-year-old mares' Jewels.

While the support races on Friday are laced with top-class performers, the group ones are excellent.

Speeding Spur has once again drawn well in the Trotting Derby, while Dream About Me has recovered from the hoof abscess which cost her a start last Friday to tackle the $150,0000 Sires' Stakes Fillies Champs this week.

While the Rowe Cup is a rarity in not attracting a full field, the depth means the great race lives up to its standing as the best trot in the North Island.

Stent and Sheemon clash again with defending champion Master Lavros after the latter looked better but still not at his peak in the Anzac Cup last Friday.

They will be challenged by 4-year-olds King Denny, Mum's Pride and One Over Da Moon.

Meanwhile, Kiwi juvenile pacer Our Waikiki Beach will start a red-hot favourite in Sunday's A$322,000 Australian Pacing Gold Final at Menangle after drawing the ace.

The unbeaten colt was huge winning his semifinal last Saturday and looks too good for his Australian rivals.

His stablemate Smolda faces a much tougher task, starting from barrier six against local champ Beautide (barrier four) in the A$100,000 Len Smith Mile, also on Sunday.