Where’s Daddy gives Purvis win 100

Matt Purvis has trained two winners at Young Quinn Raceway and both have been memorable, but for entirely different reasons. The Canterbury harness racing trainer brought up career victory number 100 yesterday (Aug. 11) when Where’s Daddy (Mach Three) charged out of the one-one to score take out race 8 for driver Kerryn Tomlinson.

It was a regulation victory from Where’s Daddy considering he looked the winner as he looked to be cruising before the turn.

Purvis’ other victory at Young Quinn Raceway, among his 99 prior career wins, came in much more dramatic circumstances.

Diamond Party was an impressive winner at the Wyndham track back in 2019, sweeping home to score before getting wayward in the process and eventually running through the outside fence just past the post.

“I think I am the only person to have trained a winner there that has crashed through the outside fence after the post,” Purvis said.

There were no scenes quite like that when Where’s Daddy’s ran to victory yesterday as the pacer turned his fortunes around after his luckless recent efforts at Addington.

“His formline was looking worse and worse after going nice races at Addington,” Purvis said.

“It was a bit of an escape for him to get the confidence back up, he was ripping home at Addington and going good but still running ninths.”

“It is hard for them there, so it was good the horse and the owner that he was able to get the job done today .”

WHERE’S DADDY REPLAY

Where’s Daddy is raced by Upper Hutt owner Brendan Marshall.

Purvis has been in hot form through the winter months, producing a swag of winners at the run of meetings at Addington which saw him close in on his 100-win milestone.

“I have had a lot of handy winter horses come through in the last couple of months, so I have racked the hundred up pretty quickly which has been great.”

With 100 career wins behind him Purvis has his sights set on new goals.

They include developing more horses to compete in feature races and premier meetings.

“I had Rocknroll Mama run third at the Jewels last year and hopefully I can get a few more racing in those bigger races.”

“That is probably the next thing for me to tick off.”

Purvis can start work on his next 100 winners as quickly as today.

The trainer has three starters at Addington tonight and a further four lining up at Ashburton on Sunday.

For complete race results, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand