Bits and Bridles

Mark and Nathan Purdon of The All Stars Stable are weighing their options for the upcoming Brisbane harness racing carnival in July.

Three year old Major Hot (Art Major) has been pencilled in to make the trip. Races that may be considered for him are the Listed South East Derby at Albion Park on 13^th July and the $150,000 Group One Queensland Derby two weeks later.

“He’s ten days away from trialling,” Nathan said.

Recent addition to the stable Treacherous Love (Captaintreacherous) could also make the trip.

“She may trial at Pukekohe Saturday week and we’ll then start mapping out a plan for her.”

From just nine starts for Brent Mangos she’s won twice.

Another addition to the barn from Tony Herlihy’s stable is Throwyaarmsaroundme (Sweet Lou) and is also being considered for the trip.

“He won quite nicely at his first start for us. If he happened to win well at his next start there could be some races for him up there (Queensland) as well.”

Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson is hopeful that Love N The Port (Love You) can recapture the form that won him the Rowe Cup this time last year.

The six year old was a distant seventh in the Group One National Trot won by Just Believe.

“He went very poor by his standards. We’re expecting better. We’ve done a little bit of remedial work through the vet so I’m sure we’ll get improvement,” Williamson said.

Santanna Mach (Santanna Blue Chip) took his lifetime earnings to over $200,000 in winning his eighteenth race at Addington last night.

The gelding commenced his career back in February 2017. Six of his wins have been at Addington and four each at Manawatu and Ascot Park. He’s also won races at Forbury Park, Otaki, Tauherenikau and New Plymouth. Blair Orange has won eight times on the ten year old.

The win gets trainer Michael House closer to 800 training wins. Wouldn’t it be great if win number 800 was with Santanna Mach and son Wilson in the cart.

Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous) is a fortnight away from resuming work.

“The scans as good as it could possibly look. Lindsay (Colwell – vet) said if you looked over the scan and weren’t trying to look for the injury you’d miss it. We just have to hope that when we stress the tendon a little bit more it’s up to the workload,” Nathan Purdon said.

The stable will sit down prior to the mare returning and work out a plan.

“She’ll probably jog for a couple of weeks then we might just put her on the treadmill for a week, just to settle things down before we put the hopples on her for two or three weeks. The first stage is going to be the most important.”

Meanwhile Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) All Stars other star, remains in the north.

“He keeps having setbacks. The leg is looking good, but he keeps having small issues that keep pushing him back by three or four weeks. He’s another one we’re not going to rush back.”

Purdon reports that Anything Goes (American Ideal) has been in work for two weeks. The now six year old last raced at Kaikoura in October and from just twenty two starts over two seasons has won eight races.

“He’s about six to eight weeks aways from going to the trials. He’s a sound and happy horse. It’ll be nice to get in early with him with those races before the Cup because maybe the better ones won’t be out by then.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink