Spell bound?

As harness racing trainer Nathan Purdon gets set to welcome one star filly back to the track, the racing future of a Group 1-winning mare is up in the air after an injury flare-up in recent days.

Spellbound was scratched from last month’s The Race in New Zealand after a paddock accident and had been working back to fitness at Purdon’s Avalon base before an issue emerged last weekend.

Purdon is expected to send the daughter of Art Major to Ballarat for a bone scan in coming days and while there’s no indication of retirement just yet for the 14-time winner, the discovery of any unexpected problems could force some serious discussions with owners.

“Long story short, she has ended up with a sore back,” Purdon said of Spellbound’s overseas mishap.

“She has come back here, we were working her down, I was really happy with her work and we were just starting to get serious the last week or two heading into a race.

“After a strong work last Saturday, she just didn’t come off it all too well.

“She’s not really bad – probably 80 per cent – but the horse doesn’t deserve to go around in any sort of pain, so we will tip her out and look after her.”

Purdon doesn’t believe there’s a major issue with Spellbound, but is wary of her value as a broodmare and her future away from the track.

After a string of Group 1 appearances, Spellbound finally broke through at the elite level when winning the Ladyship Cup at Melton in February.

SPELLBOUND REPLAY

She has won 14 of 46 career starts for more than $380,000 in prizemoney and proved one of Purdon’s pin-up horses since making the move from New Zealand early last year.

Her stablemate Amore Vita will return to the races this Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton, with the Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies champion resuming in the Nutrien 3YO Pace.

The filly hasn’t started since running third to Just Hope in the NSW Oaks back in late February and will head to Melton on Saturday night without a trial under her belt.

“When I saw it was a small field, it was just the perfect sort of pipe-opener for her,” Purdon said.

“She seems really well and I’m really happy with the way she’s come back.”

Amore Vita has won eight of 13 career starts for almost $200,000 in prizemoney.

LISTEN TO PURDON ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF TROTS TALK BELOW: