Five Crowns aptly wins fifth Supremacy for Purdon

Having won four Southern Supremacy Stakes between 2005 and 2016, Mark Purdon’s name returned to the winners list today with Five Crowns (Bettor’s Delight) when he impressively won the forty second addition of the Alabar sponsored Group Two feature in the hands of Blair Orange.

Orange ensured that the three year old was ready to run from his inside front row draw, giving him a solid warm up in his preliminary.

“You had to utilise the draw and take advantage of that. I was really happy with one, (draw) but I would rather have run from two or three,” he said.

When the mobile gate powered away Orange got the Mark and Nathan Purdon trained Five Crowns rolling and found the front.

“I had to put all my eggs in one basket early. He had the talent to hold up, but he was a bit rough round the first corner. It just shows he’s such a lovely horse to get through that early bit.”

Five Crowns managed to park Crunch Time early with Always Dreaming hopping into the trail.

Straightening for the run in, Five Crowns cut away to beat a late run from Flashpoint who was five lengths away with Always Dreaming a neck back in third.

FIVE CROWNS REPLAY

“He’s pretty versatile. You can drive him with a sit or put him into the race. He’s a cool wee tradesman and he’ll go a wee way.”

The winning time of 2-38.2 left the opposition hanging out for air and was a new race record for the new 2200 metre distance. It was also a new track and Southland record.

The previous track and race record for three year old colts and geldings was 2-39.6 held by Mongolian Hero.

Today’s win was the second for Orange in the three year old feature. His last was Highview Tommy in 2009.

Part owner Phil Kennard who was on-course said in his presentation that Five Crowns was one of the underrated horses in the Purdon Rolleston barn.

“I agree. Every race he’s had he’s never let us down. He’ll be better next time in. He’s always going to pop up when you forget about him,” Orange said.

The South Island harness racing landscape is about to change as Purdon Racing uproots from it’s state of the art facility at Rolleston and sets up full-time in Pukekohe.

“It’ll put a bit of a hole in some of my drives but I’ll still be heading north to help Nathan and Mark out when they have bigger teams up there,” said Orange.

The property has been sold and will be used for housing.

“It’s a lovely farm and it’s such a shame.”

Orange also acknowledged Phil and Glenys Kennard who have provided him with stacks of winners going back to Fuel Of Tudor trained by Michael House, which won at Oamaru in 1999.

“Right from the early years they’ve backed me and still do.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink