Purdon trio primed for Harness Million tilts

Leading trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon have a powerful trio ready to face their tricky draws in the $200,000 Listed Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Final (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The father and son combination bring a powerful team of NZB graduates to the lucrative feature in Chase A Dream (Captaintreacherous), Vessem (Vincent) and Major Hot (Art Major).

The trio haven’t been handed the best draws in their Harness Million assignmnets, but Nathan Purdon is sure each horse is ready to face them.

“It is going to be a bit tricky, but the good thing is that pace is usually on in these good races, and that should be a big help.”

Purdon thinks his classy colt Chase A Dream can make his mark despite drawing the outside of the front line in barrier 8.

“He has shown he can lead and he has got good gate speed.”

“You would expect him to be fitter for his run last week, too.”

“He is ready to be roughed and tumbled a bit.”

“He has had quite a few nice trips and been driven off the pace.”

“But he has shown he has the class do some work and get handy at this level.”

Purdon thinks multiple group race winner Vessem could be the forgotten horse of Friday night’s Harness Million Final.

The pacer starts from another tricky spot in barrier 4 on the second row.

“We have let him find the line in his trials and his race last week.”

“Last preparation, he had a few strong runs, and he was found it tough that last bit and rightfully so.”

“He is probably one a lot of people have forgotten about.”

“But he is a good horse and he has had a great preparation coming into this race.”

Major Hot arguably has the worst barrier draw among the Purdon team in barrier six on the second row.

But the Purdon camp doesn’t think it’s the end of the horse’s chances at all.

“He is quite a fast horse, and he is best driven with one run.”

“So, hopefully, the draw won’t be too much of a factor for him.”

“He is well and if he gets the right drag into it, he can run a nice race.”

An outstanding last-start performance has Cold Chisel (Always B Miki) as the top seed among a powerful line up trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan bring to the $200,000 Listed Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Final.

Better Knuckle Up (Bettor’s Delight), Jeremiah (Lazarus),Escape Artist (Art Major), and Always B Elite (Always B Elite) start alongside Cold Chisel, who has the coveted number 1 barrier draw.

Hadron (Sweet Lou), Twista (Bettor’s Delight), and Le Major (Art Major) are also among the talented three-year-olds adding depth to an outstanding field for the $200,000 Listed Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Final.

The lucrative feature is set down to be run at 8.48 pm on Friday night.

For complete race entries, click here.

From NZB Standardbred