Big guns get set to spring

Clevedon trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan are on the verge of launching some of their stable stars with some lofty targets in mind.

Talented pacer Cold Chisel (Always B Miki) is nearing a return to the racetrack after injury halted his three year old campaign last year.

He last raced in October in the Ashburton Flying Mile when he fractured a hind pastern.

“Horses with those pastern injuries don’t really think about it. It’s just the tendon, suspensory issues that they worry about when they come back from a long layoff,” Phelan said.

The now four year old had his first public outing at the Pukekohe workouts a week ago.

“He seems good, touch wood. He’ll just have a couple of trials and (will) need a couple of races to get him back to full fitness. He’s a big strong entire. There’s a race for him on the 22^nd August but he’s still got a bit of weight on him.”

Cold Chisel has won six of his nineteen starts and carries an R76 rating.

“He’s an open class horse and that’s how life is. He’s got to line up against the big boys now.”

Phelan says the New Zealand Cup is on the horse’s radar.

“It’s definitely in our thoughts but we won’t be pushing him just to get there because you’d want to be competitive in it as well. There’s a four year old race ten days later (G1 Christian Cullen).”

Phelan says Merlin (Art Major), Duchess Megxit (Sweet Lou) and Sooner The Bettor (Bettor’s Delight) are all at the same stage.

“Merlin will be at the trials at the end of August and Duchess Megxit and Sooner The Bettor are on the same path. They head to the Spring Cup on the 19^th September.”

Duchess Megxit last raced at Cambridge in April in The Race by betcha.

“It’s the first good spell she’s had in a while. She got her arse kicked a bit in The Race and it took a bit out of her. She’s always been a big strong filly and she’s probably just grown into her frame. We’ll probably just target the mares’ races at this stage.”

Merlin will head towards the New Zealand Cup.

“That’s his target. He’ll go along the path that Barry’s horses have always gone along. The Spring Cup, Holmes DG and probably Ashburton.”

Two well-bred two year olds, No More Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) and War Party, (Bettor’s Delight) were to be at the trials at Pukekohe today, but the trials were cancelled due to bad weather.

“So far they’ve been nice enough. They need to step up a bit. Hopefully they’ll qualify this week, have another trial and then head to the races. They’ve shown enough ability so far but you need plenty to head into those big races.”

Jeremiah (Lazarus) and Better Knuckle Up (Bettor’s Delight) are also close to trialling.

Better Knuckle Up has won six of his nineteen starts and campaigned in Australia early in the season.

“He’s a horse that’s on the fringe of possibly going in the Cup but we’re more targeting the four year old race (Christian Cullen) and races like the Kaikoura Cup.”

Jeremiah will follow the same pathway as Better Knuckle Up.

“They’ll both line up at the end of August and have a couple of races before the open class horses race in the Spring Cup.”

Immensely talented trotter Meant To Be (Father Patrick) has been back in the stable for three weeks.

“He looks great. The spell he got was outstanding and he’s come back from Angela Purdon’s looking an absolute picture. He’s big and bullish. As long as he can carry that weight long into this campaign he’ll have a pretty good campaign.”

The stable is excited about his prospects, with races like The Ascent (November) and the New Zealand Trotting Derby on his target sheet.

“He’s got the motor, the size and maybe he’s a bit daunting for other horses. He’s still got a lot of learning to do but what he’s done so far is outstanding.”

Meanwhile talented filly Youretheonethatiwant has been retired.

She won four of her nine starts as a two year old but as a three year old she failed to recapture her juvenile form.

“She had a lot of injuries, so she’s been retired.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink