Purdon and Phelan have good chances at Alexandra Park

There are some quality horses returning to race at Alexandra Park tomorrow night or a feature night of harness racing.

Meant To Be, (Father Patrick) Sooner The Bettor (Bettor’s Delight) and Merlin (Art Major) are the headline acts for the harness racing training partnership of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

Chanel Noire (Captain Crunch) showed she was the finished product when getting run down on debut at Cambridge. She swerved inwards at the 150 mark costing her a chance of winning. She gets a good draw at four to play with in Race Three.

“She didn’t get too much peace in front last week and just got beaten by a better one on the night. She’ll improve with the run,” Phelan said.

Always B Elite (Always B Miki) and Invisible (Always B Miki) represent the barn in Race Five.

Always B Elite gets the best draw at four. Four of his seven wins have been at Alexandra Park and he has good distance stats.

“He’s a really consistent horse. He doesn’t win too often but he puts himself there and if things go his way on the night he’ll be pretty hard to beat.”

Invisible gets a wide draw at seven. He finished off his last race at Cambridge well, against stronger company.

“He’s a real honest horse, tries hard every time and it’ll certainly be no different this week.”

Race Six the $75,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three Year Old Trotters Final sees the resumption of two of the stable’s promising three year old trotters Higher Power (Father Patrick) and Meant To Be.

Higher Power who last raced at Addington in October has had one workout with a galloping pacemaker.

“He’s got plenty of ability but he’s first up against a few seasoned campaigners like Illicit Love and Traveling Soldier. It won’t be easy, but he’s certainly got plenty of ability.”

Meant To Be was last at the races in December. He won his last five starts as a two year old and hasn’t been to any workouts or trials.

“We’re happy with him. He’s had a bit longer out. Whilst this is a really good race the Derby and the Sires’ Stakes are his main targets. He’s probably as forward as he can be without going to a trial. He won’t be far away just on ability alone.”

In the pacing feature of the night, the $100,000 Group One Dawson Harford Taylor Mile, Sooner The Bettor and Merlin line up.

Sooner The Bettor gets a good marble at two for the 1609 metre race. He last started in the Waikato Flying Mile won by Chase A Dream in 1-51.4.

“He probably needed a few days to get over that race. He seems great. It’s a mile again, he’s got a good draw and you have to make the most of those types of draws with him.”

Merlin on the other hand draws the outside of the front row of eight.

“Last week was a bit hard on old Merlin. He didn’t have the best draw and he had to earn his finishing spot. We were proud of his run. It fantastic that Leap To Fame isn’t there but it’s not going to be easy over a mile at Auckland. He seems good and doesn’t have to do too much this week. It’s not going to be easy with Republican Party and Mo’unga who’s coming in with fresh legs. There are a few decent horses in there and he’ll still need to be on top of his game.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink