Purdon: “I can win the Hunter Cup.”

Champion Kiwi harness racing trainer Mark Purdon thinks his young star Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) can give him a third Hunter Cup win.

Purdon won Victoria’s biggest race with Smolda in 2016 and Lazarus in 2018 and has a big opinion of Don’t Stop Dreaming ahead of next Saturday night’s $450,000 Group 1 feature at Melton.

Don’t Stop Dreaming opened his Aussie campaign with a fantastic and close second to proven topliner Better Eclipse in last night’s $50,000 Casey Classic at Melton.

“I was thrilled with that run,” Purdon said. “He blew up a bit after it, suggesting he needed the run.

“It was his first run for about a month and he’s a stallion, so I’m sure it’ll bring him on well for next week.

“Better Eclipse is probably the best pacer in Victoria, so to run him so close was terrific.

“If we can get a good draw, I think he’s right in the Hunter Cup.”

Like everyone, Purdon admitted Queensland sensation and recently crowned Inter Dominion champion Leap To Fame was the benchmark.

“Of course, he’s the one we all have to beat,” he said. “That’s the way I saw it before we came across, Leap To Fame was a bit of a standout and my horse was in the group just behind him.

“I really like my horse and think he’ll turn into a serious Australian Grand Circuit horse.

“He’ll just keep improving, but he’s well enough and good enough to give it a big shake next week if the barriers go his way.”

Purdon said the other buzz of his first night at Melton in four years was seeing champion Aussie trotter Just Believe in the flesh.

“He’s just something else, isn’t he?” he said. “He just did that so easily. He’s great to watch.”

Purdon opted not to bring his best trotter Oscar Bonavena to Australia, but he could clash with Just Believe in the inaugural $NZ650,000 TAB Trot slot race at Cambridge on April 12.

Before then, Just Believe will try to successfully defend his Great Southern Star crown at Melton next Saturday night.

Just Believe made it seven wins from as many starts since returning from Sweden he cruised to victory in the Group 2 Dullard Cup last night.

He also became the first Aussie-bred trotter to pass $1 million in career earnings.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia