Drivers start your engines!!

Rolleston harness racing trainers Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen have big numbers entered for the Grand Prix meeting at Addington Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 3) and Harnesslink’s Bruce Stewart caught up with Mark for a runner by runner preview.

R3-Avon City Ford Group One $100,000 Ace of Diamonds Two Year Old Pacing Fillies 1980 metre mobile

#2 Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous)

“Very happy with the draw and she seems to be in a good place. I hope things work out the way they look on paper, but she’ll be very hard to beat,” Purdon said.

#8 Luvstruck (Art Major)

“She needed a good draw to feature in the top three. She’s needed some favours to be in the finish.”

New Zealand Record – Millwood Nike 2-21.2 (11/11/2022) 

R4- Group One $100,000 Prono8ure Probiotic New Zealand Trotting Derby 2600 metre Mobile Trot

#3 Wy Fi (Love You)

“He’s been a work in progress. He’s gone some good races and run some placings. Olivia (Thornley) handled him very well last week. He’s in a good place at the moment but he’ll need to be because there’s some nice three year old trotters in that race.”

New Zealand record – Three Year Old Colts and Geldings-Marcoola 3-13.9 (08/04/2016) 

R5-The Crossing Group One $100,000 Ace of Spades Two Year Old Pacing Colts and Geldings 1980 metre mobile

#1 Sherlock (Vincent)

“His work’s been good since his last start. He was unlucky when he ran second on Cup Day at Addington and with the one draw Natalie (Rasmussen) will take full advantage of that. So he’s going to be the horse to beat.”

#3 Vinke B (Vincent) #4 Carerra Rapido (Art Major)  #5 Final Collect (Art Major)

“They need a bit of luck to be in the first four.”

#8 With Style (Bettor’s Delight) 

“He seems to get bad draws in those big races. He’s also going to need some luck from the wide draw.”

#11 Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) 

“He can make his own luck and he proved that when he ran second to Merlin. It’ll be hard enough to overcome the draw and still win it.”

#11 Sinbad (Downbytheseaside)

“Very happy with him. He’s quite a nice horse who I wouldn’t underrate if he got a nice drag into the race. He’ll need to be in his best form to overcome the draw and win.”

New Zealand Record – Mister Smartee 2-19.2 (08/11/2022)

R6-Canterbury Spa and Pool Group One $100,000 Ace of Hearts Two Year Old Fillies Mobile Trot (1980 metres)

#7 High Energy (Father Patrick)

“She’s never shown any gate speed, but I wouldn’t say she hasn’t got it. In her first two or three starts her gait just hasn’t been good enough to push her. At the moment she’s trotting superbly. We’ll look to come out from that draw and look for a handy position.”

New Zealand record – High Energy 2-27.8 (25/11/2022)

 R7-Group One $250,000 Sunshine Stars New Zealand Pacing Derby 2600 metre mobile

#5 Franco Indie (Always B Miki)

“If he’s right he’s a very good horse and not one I’d underrate. He seems to be in better form than he was a month ago.”

#8 Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) 

“He saw the Cup which was two miles out well, so he’s going to see this distance out okay. Republican Party has drawn inside of him and will probably take a lot of beating. We went close last start so hopefully we can go one better.”

#9 Cyrus (Bettor’s Delight) 

“He’ll follow speed well. He’s a nice little horse but he’s behind Akuta and Republican Party but if they ran some time that wouldn’t worry him.”

New Zealand Record – Sheriff 3-05.4 (06/04/2018)

R8-Group One $100,000 Livamol New Zealand Trotting Free for All 1980 metre mobile Trot

#3 Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son)

“I’m just not 100% sure that he’s where he needs to be and he’s maybe looking for a bit of a break. We’ll see what happens on Sunday and make a call after that.”

New Zealand record – Horses and Geldings – Heavyweight Hero 2-23.9 (10/11/2020)

R9-IRT Group One $175,000 New Zealand Pacing Oaks 2600 metre mobile

#1 True Fantasy (Bettor’s Delight) 

“She is good in front but she’s also versatile gauging by her Cup Day win. She’ll be hard to beat.”

#3 No Matter Wat (A Rocknroll Dance)

“She’s the type that you need to stay out of the early speed and let her settle before you make any calls with her, and I think Olivia realised that after her last start. I’m sure she’ll handle her well this week.”

#4 Chambray (Bettor’s Delight) 

“She’s probably just behind the nice fillies. She’s not the worst but would need some luck in the running.” 

#7 A Bettor You Bettor’s Delight) 

“Probably in the same bracket as Chambray.”

#9 Queen Of Diamonds (Bettor’s Delight) 

“Her last run was hard to explain but hopefully we can put it behind us, and she can put her best foot forward this week.”

New Zealand Record – Princess Tiffany 3-08.2 (17/05/2019)

R10-Group Three $30,000 East West Fencing Summer Cup 1980 metre mobile

#8 Spankem (Bettor’s Delight) 

“I’m very happy with him. He’s thrived on racing, he’s still fresh and enjoying his work.”

#9 Self Assured (Bettor’s Delight) 

“The draw won’t worry him. He came from the back when he won the Free for All. With only nine in it he’s not going to be too far back. He’s in a good place too.”

Mark’s Best for the day: R5 Sherlock

Longer odds: R5 Sinbad

For complete Grand Prix Day fields, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink