Racing: Purdon's luck will improve

Follow The Stars will be strongly favoured to win the Victoria Derby on Saturday night. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Rarely is a champion trainer like Mark Purdon thrilled after being beaten twice.

However, that is how New Zealand's perennial premiership winner is feeling as he assesses Adore Me and Follow The Stars' defeats at Melton on Saturday.

Purdon spent plenty of time wide on the track piloting both the pacing superstars into placings, Adore Me an enormous third in the Victoria Cup and Follow The Stars surprisingly beaten for only the second time in his career when runner-up to Art Union in his heat of the Victoria Derby.

While Adore Me was always on a hiding to nothing from her second-line draw in the Victoria Cup, she was timed over her last 800m in 53.4 seconds three and four wide when making up lengths on winner Christen Me and looks the one to beat in this Saturday's A$400,000 Hunter Cup.

"I was thrilled with her, they don't go much better than that," said Purdon.

"We really had no chance from the draw but she was the only one to really make real ground.

"The extra distance this week will suit her even better."

Adore Me is the second favourite behind Christen Me for the Hunter Cup but could replace him in that role if she fares better at tonight's barrier draw at Melton.

Victory in the Hunter will raise some questions over Purdon's decision to pull Adore Me out of the A$750,000 Inter Dominion at Menangle on March 1, a race she could have even ended up favourite for.

But he is adamant he doesn't want to start in the Inter, preferring the A$200,000 Ladyship Mile the same day to give her an easier path to the Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park five days later.

"We are very keen on the Auckland Cup with her and I think that might have been too hard five days after a 3000m Interdom," says Purdon.

"So I have no regrets about that. The Inter was only a secondary thought."

The trainers of fellow Kiwi pacing icons Christen Me and Terror To Love have also indicated they are keen on the Auckland Cup hard on the back of the Inter, with the last two Cups having been won by horses who contested the Inter five days earlier.

Follow The Stars' defeat on Saturday may have stung punters but Purdon is adamant he will have a far better horse in front of him come this Saturday night's Derby.

He was sluggish off the gate in his heat, while Art Union got a beautiful run through from the second line and worked to the lead.

While that was happening, Follow The Stars was trapped behind a 100-1 chance stuck three wide so had to pull four wide to make his challenge and then sit parked, only going down narrowly in a 55.6 second last 800m.

"He went very well but things just didn't pan out for him," said Purdon.

"But I am sure he will improve for this week and I am still confident about the Derby."

With Art Union and impressive Victorian youngster Menin Gate good front runners, tonight's draw for the Derby will be crucial.