Racing: Winner thumps opposition

Thumpem, driven by Ken Barron, holds on to win the PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales Open at Addington yesterday. Photo / NZPA

Thumpem overcame a wide barrier draw and having to do a stack of early work to lead and win the $300,000 PGG NZ Yearling Sales Series Open Final at Addington yesterday.

From the start the Ken Barron-trained and driven colt was pushed to the lead.

No sooner had Barron secured the front then The Muskeg Express and driver Anthony Butt pressed forward with the intention of leading.

Barron had to make a split second decision that most probably secured this well-deserved victory, opting not yield to The Muskeg Express.

Thumpem was under plenty of pressure on the home turn and was headed by The Muskeg Express who threw the victory away flying into a mad gallop with about 100m left to run and losing all chance.

When it mattered Thumpem showed plenty of stamina and fight, kicking back to hold on and win by a half-length over Le Sol with a further nose back to River Black (third).

The favourite, Major Mark, made ground solidly out wide to finish fourth - less than two lengths from the winner - but took an eternity to wind up and sprint despite the leaders powering home the closing 400m off the front in 27.9 seconds.

"It was a top effort from this fella as we did plenty of work from the start to get around lead," said Barron.

"It was blowing a gale down the back straight and Ants [Anthony Butt] wanted the front but I couldn't take the risk of handing up to him in case I didn't get a run in the straight."

Le Sol lost few admirers with a stunning performance to finish second charging around the field three wide for the closing 1000m sitting outside the leaders and fighting on.

* * *

Mark Purdon and Grant Payne had no difficulty debuting a 3-year-old filly left-handed at Addington Raceway in Group One company.

The Canterbury-based trainers had started Secret Potion 13 times in the Auckland and Waikato area.

New Zealand's premier trainers produced Secret Potion like a seasoned professional to effortlessly over power age group rivals in the $150,000 Nevele R Fillies Series Final.

The daughter of Courage Under Fire worked forward three wide with cover to sit outside the pace-making Royal Cee Cee and put a winning break on the opposition quickly on the home turn.

This proved to be the winning of the race for Secret Potion who held out her stablemate Meredith Maguire to score by a half-length. A further half-neck back was Lancome (third).

Meredith Maguire sat behind the winner for the final 1000m and closed quickly when working into clear pacing air.

The 1950m was cut out in 2:22.5 (mile rate 1:57.6) with closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 57 seconds and 27.4s.

"It's always good to come back home and win a Group One race," said winning driver Nicole Molander.

"In this short distance racing being in the three-wide train is the place to be and this filly is a good stayer."

With seven wins and three minor placings from 14 starts, Secret Potion, has been a massive improver in the Purdon-Payne barn this season having already won the Great Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park.

The domination of the Purdon-Payne stable was underlined in this Group One event - they trained the trifecta - and harnessed up five of the 13 runners.

* * *

When your luck is in, it's certainly in - just ask Mark Purdon.

The Purdon/Payne-trained 2-year-old filly Kylie Ree looked to have no possible chance of winning the $60,000 Sires Stakes Trot Championship when forced to sit three wide outside the leaders for the closing 1000m.

Purdon could not believe his eyes when he saw a rival going backwards through the field and creating enough racing room for Kylie Ree to secure the 1-1 sit. Kylie Ree unleashed a blistering home stretch sprint down the middle of the track to defeat the pace-setting favourite Paramount Gee Gee by 1 lengths. A short neck away in third was Latheronwheel.

The daughter of Monarchy chose an appropriate occasion to score her first career victory - a Group Two event - and caught the eye with an effortless sprint to win.

"This filly came to me about six weeks ago from Maree Price and she came in perfection condition trotting beautifully on my training track," said Purdon.

"We had a bit of luck here today managing to drop down and get that 1-1 sit but you've got to take these opportunities when they come your way."