In the action packed Group Two Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes, favourite Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous) had to do a bit of ducking and diving before she let down nicely in the home straight to win tonightās (Mar. 17) harness racing feature at Alexandra Park.
Driver Mark Purdon stayed out of the early rush as the field settled into single file. With about 1600 metres to run Kahlua Flybye (Bettorās Delight) broke and veered out just when Millwood Nike was setting out to get handy. Purdon had to grab hold of his filly and navigate round the breaking horse before managing to settle in the one one.
Turning in, Millwood Nike was four lengths off the pace. Once she got balanced, Purdon shook her up and once she got into full stride she let down nicely to beat Advance Party (Bettorās Delight) by a length and a quarter with Wicked Wanda (Sweet Lou) four lengths back in third.
The winning time was 2-41.4 with the last 800 metres cut out in 56.1.
MILLWOOD NIKE REPLAY
Tonightās win was Millwood Nikeās tenth win in a row, and she remains unbeaten.Ā
In the last eight years the All Stars stable has won five editions of the Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes and tonightās win as a driver was Mark Purdonās fourth in the race. His previous winners were Happy Hazel (1989), Angela Jane (2001) and Adore Me (2012).Ā
The $90,000 Group One Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park in seven days time appears to be the be the next likely race for Millwood Nike before heats of the Magness Benrow Sires Stakes are run from the end of March into May. The Group One final of that series will be run at Alexandra Park on the 19th of May.
Millwood Nike is owned by Frank Endacott, Steve Byrne, Steve Thompson, Bruce Irvine and Shane Endacott.
The Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes carries special significance for Purdon. He trained Megaera (Butler BG) for Ken and his late brother Peter Breckon who died tragically in 2003. She was their first venture into harness racing. They bought her at the 1995 Auckland Sales for $30,000 and she won eight races including the Group One Caduceus Club Fillies Classic in 1996.
At Addington tonight, Purdon brought up his 2,500th training win when Bollinger (Bettorās Delight) won in the hands of Sam Ottley.Ā
Purdonās first winner was Donās Delight (Dancing Master) at Cambridge on August 4th, 1995. The chestnut was bred by Ray Beale and had four starts for him before Mark took over the training.
Purdon has trained 980 winners in his own name, 898 with Natalie Rasmussen, 558 with Grant Payne, 129 in partnership with Hayden Cullen and 10 with son Nathan, in a career thatās now into itās 32nd season.
His best season as a trainer was in 2014 when he trained 157 winners with Natalie Rasmussen.Ā
Purdon has now won 602 Group or Listed races, 237 of those have been Group Oneās.Ā
Across the two venues at Auckland and Christchurch it was a good night for Mark Purdon and his new training partner, his son Nathan. Sherlock, (Vincent) despite racing without front shoes, easily beat a quality field at Alexandra Park to add to Millwood Nikeās win while at Addington the stable winners were Bollinger, Fortify (Bettorās Delight) and No Matter Wat (A Rocknroll Dance).
For complete race results,Ā click here.
byĀ Bruce Stewart,Ā for Harnesslink