Purdon ready to move again

Nathan Purdon is planning a move back home to New Zealand, with his Australian harness racing training venture set to end a few months shy of two years since it started.

Purdon, the son of legendary Kiwi horseman Mark, arrived to commence full-time training in Victoria during early 2021 and has decided to return to Christchurch in late November.

“It just feels like the right time,” Purdon told News Corp contributor Adam Hamilton.

“As much as Mikayla (Lewis, Purdon’s partner) and I have loved our time here, we’ve missed NZ a lot and are looking forward to getting back home.”

Purdon’s hugely successful stint in Victoria has included five Group 1 wins, with Amazing Dream (Rising Sun, Blacks A Fake and Queen of the Pacific), Spellbound (Ladyship Cup) and Amore Vita (Vicbred 2YO Fillies Final) all claiming races at the elite level.

And it’s Amore Vita who is behind the delay in moving home, with Purdon keen to give the top three-year-old filly a tilt at the Victoria Oaks and Breeders Crown series before returning to New Zealand.

“It’s fair to say we’ve achieved what we set out to do,” he said.

“We’ve had terrific support from owners back home and in Australia and been able to win some really nice races with terrific horses.

“Amazing Dream was incredible for us and, in many ways, Spellbound was just as special because she came along first and really put us on the map over here.

“Then along came Amore Vita last year and she’s still got so much ahead of her.”

Purdon has trained 45 winners in Australia from just 180 starters.

by Tim O’Connor and Adam Hamilton, for thetrots.com.au