Duchess Megxit returns after tough week for top trainer

Training legend Barry Purdon is hoping this weekend goes better than last and he has two of his stable stars with harness racing opportunities to put a smile back on his face.

The Hall of Famer had to watch his best horse Merlin miss making tomorrow’s Miracle Mile after a horror show of a prelude at Menangle last Saturday where he caused a false start and then paced a dazzling first 400m sectional before understandably fading out of the placings.

The night wasn’t a total write off for Purdon and training partner Scott Phelan as their under-rated pacer Sooner The Bettor qualified for the Miracle Mile with a prelude third, putting him in the red hot thriller at 11.45pm (NZ time) tomorrow night.

But while that gives him an opportunity to match or even go better than last year when Sooner The Bettor finished second to Leap To Fame, Purdon isn’t able to be at Menangle as he is in hospital.

He is having complications after having a hip replaced so needed to go back in for another operation last week.

“It hasn’t been a lot of fun but luckily we have good staff and of course Scott is over there (Sydney) with those horses,” says Purdon.

The stable were going to back Merlin up in a 2300m free-for-all tomorrow night, a race he actually won last year, but they have pulled the pin and will instead bring him home to prepare for his defence of the Cambridge slot race now known as The Race by Betcha.

“But we are still very happy to have Sooner The Bettor in the Miracle Mile. It is a great race that means a lot to us and he has a good draw so we think he will go well.”

Closer to home the stable will also launch the new season for their outstanding mare Duchess Megxit (Sweet Lou) when she returns in the main pace at Alexandra Park tonight, the Warren Mathieson 60th Birthday Mobile Pace.

Duchess Megxit was our best three-year-old pacing filly last season and will be given her first shot at the superstars of pacing on April 4 as she too is being aimed at the Race by Betcha, taking on Merlin and Leap To Fame.

That could ensure she draws the ace under the slot race conditions but while tonight’s field is much weaker than what she will face in a month she faces the tricky barrier in the 1700m mobile.

Duchess Megxit (R5, No.7) wasn’t asked to show her best at the Pukekohe trials last week and while she opened the $1.90 favourite for tonight’s sprint she was quickly backed into $1.65.

“It won’t be easy as she tends to be driven for speed and that will probably be the case this week,” said Purdon.

“And she will improve with the run.

“We also have Invisible in that race and he has been going well.”

Ohoka Connor is a pivotal rival tonight as he was heavily backed last week even though his trainer warned he could be a run short. That proved to be the case but he will strip a lot fitter and his $6.50 opening price for tonight was an over-correction.

Tonight’s black type trot named in honour of I Can Doosit sees Kyvalley Hotspur try to overcome a 30m handicap over 2200m, never easy at The Park, especially with plenty of good beginners in the race.

If he can get the right drag into the race the backmarker can still win so the $2.50 the TAB bookies opened him at was fair and soon became $2.10.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand