Racing: Reality bites after Purdon return

Mark Purdon finds himself in a rare situation at Addington tonight: Driving for second place.

The champion horseman has had a quiet return to the track after his four-month disqualification, having reined one winner from a handful of drives.

He would love to change that in tonight's $100,000 Breeders Stakes at Addington but in a rare concession says he would need a miracle to beat hotpot Mainland Banner.

"I don't think there is a mare in the country - outside maybe Alta Serena - who can beat her," says Purdon.

"If they were going to beat her it would have been last week when she was a run short and was taken on but we couldn't then and she should be even better now."

Purdon lines up Imagine That and Millwood Touche tonight, with the pair finishing fifth and sixth respectively in last Friday's corresponding race.

"They both went all right but I wasn't 100 per cent happy with Imagine That so I got her checked out on Monday.

"It turns out her blood wasn't right and she has worked a lot better this week so I think she will be an improver.

"But really we are racing for second if Mainland Banner races up to her best."

The Purdon pair look the best trifecta chances behind the great mare as they have drawn to stay handy, perhaps even lead early if they can beat out Tidal Franco.

With Mainland Banner's driver Ricky May letting the mare show gate speed to lead last Friday it would surprise if he didn't adopt similar tactics tonight.

That is especially so as she comes into barrier six with the scratching on That's Life Lavra.

Mainland Banner has to be fitter than last week as she went into that race with just one slow trial the previous week under her ample girth.

The extra 2600m should also suit and with most rival drivers adopting the same attitude as Purdon she looks an anchor in tonight's $150,000 Pick6.

Meanwhile, Purdon will know in a few days whether his open class pacer Likmesiah will press on toward the Interdominions.

The 5-year-old has been one of the biggest flops of the elite pacing ranks this season, with only one major placing after starting the term as one of the favourites for the New Zealand Cup.

"I think he is sore somewhere but I can't work out why. We had the vets check him over this week with a new state-of-the-art machine and we will have the results soon.

"We haven't given up getting him back to his best this season but we don't have a lot of time."