Purdon’s star unwanted by punters in Miracle Mile

Mark Purdon has taken a precautionary blood test from young harness racing star Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) to make sure he’s right to push on to Saturday night’s $1mil Miracle Mile at Menangle.

Purdon admitted to being “a bit disappointed” with Don’t Stop Dreaming’s sixth placing when a $1.80 favourite in last week’s Chariots Of Fire.

“I expected a bit better, but once I’d gone back and watched the replay, how the race was run and the times they went, I was not as disappointed as I was straight after it,” he said.

“We took bloods from him (Monday morning) and I’m keen to get them back just to see exactly where we are at.

“But he’s really bright and sharp today. There doesn’t seem to be any issues.”

Don’t Stop Dreaming was $4 second favourite for the Miracle Mile before his Chariots run, but that performance combined with a wide barrier (he will start from six) has seen his odds drift right out to $12.

In contrast, stablemate We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight) barely raised a sweat winning his heat of the NSW Derby last Saturday night.

In more good news, We Walk By Faith drew perfectly in gate one in Saturday night’s $200,000 Derby final.

He is sure to be a commanding favourite.

“It was a perfect way to get through the heat, a nice easy win,” Purdon said.

“And from that draw, he’s got the early speed to give us options.”

We Walk By Faith’s two main Derby dangers look to be Victorian pair Bay Of Biscay (gate three) and Sergeant Lou (10).

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand