Nathan to continue family’s Breeders Crown strike rate

It is up to Nathan Purdon to continue a fantastic family strike rate in harness racing’s Breeders Crown on Saturday night.

Purdon’s champion father, Mark, has been as influential as any trainer in the history of the Breeders Crown with a staggering 10 victories.

But some time out of the game to recharge, the travel restrictions of COVID-19, a new timeslot for the Breeders Crown (back from August to November) and a change in business model from Mark has presented Nathan with the best two of his four winning chances in the quest for his Breeders Crown triumph.

In the past, Mark Purdon and/or his partner Natalie Rasmussen would have been in Victoria chasing the riches.

Now it’s Nathan taking two of Mark and Rasmussen’s All Stars team – Bettor Twist  and Amazing Dream, both progeny of Bettors Delight  – to Melton. His other two finalists, American Dealer (American Ideal) and Amore Vita (Art Major), have come from other Kiwi trainers.

“So many NZ trainers have been such a big part of the Breeders Crown over the years, so it’s a series that means a lot to me,” Purdon said. “I’m lucky to have some really nice horses going into the finals.

“The best part of it is, I think I’ve got all four of them as good as I can possibly have them, they’ve all peaked at the right time and are all winning chances.”

Most would say megastar three-year-old filly Bettor Twist is Purdon’s best winning hope, but not in his books.

“I’d have to say I’m most confident about Amazing Dream (4YO mares’ final) of the quartet,” he said. “What she did last week in defeat was amazing. She really is something else. If the race had been another 400m last week, I’m sure she’d have won and she gets that extra 400m this week.

“Anthony (Butt) will drive her aggressively again, he has to from that draw, but she’ll just keep coming. They’ll need to be good to hold her out this week.”

Bettor Twist is favourite in the super-strong $200,000 Villawood Properties 3YO pacing fillies’ final and Purdon is in awe of her, but also respectful of the sheer depth of talent in the race.

“What a race it is, what a fantastic group of fillies they are,” he said. “I’ve got no doubt Bettor Twist is as good, if not better, than any of them, but it looks like she’ll have to do all the work to win it.

“She’s ready to do that and is probably good enough to, but to outstay the leader (expected to be Beach Music) then hold-off the swoopers headed by Ladies In Red will take something really special.

“We knew she was underdone in those first two defeats, then she was very close to primed last week when she won easily in the finish, but now she’s as good as we can get her. She’s ready to run a mighty race and she’s so tough. It should be a great race.”

American Dealer starred during the Queensland Winter Carnival, headlined by his Queensland Derby win, but he’s been winless in five Victorian runs for Purdon.

“There’s no doubt it’s been a class-rise for him down here, especially against Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s horses. But it’s just now he’s really come good. His last two runs have been really pleasing and, although he’s not a good track worker, he’s really picked-up at home as well,” Purdon said.

“It’s another really strong race, but I’ve changed my mind on him. Two weeks ago I didn’t think he could win the final, now I think he’s a winning chance if he got the right sort of run and the race was run at a strong enough tempo.”

Purdon also warned not to judge Amore Vita too harshly for a slightly disappointing second in her semi-final of the Aldebaran Park 2YO pacing fillies’ series last week.

“Chris (Alford) said she just got a bit keen and that took too much out of her for the finish,” he said. “We’ve taken the blinkers off, put the pull-up blinds on and that should help her settle better early, especially from that back row draw.

“We haven’t seen her driven for speed yet, but she’s got plenty. I think she’s right in this final if she gets the right sort of luck.”

To view fields for Melton on Saturday night click here.

By Adam Hamilton