Rising Krug announces himself on Aussie soil

There’s a bit of a Cox Plate feel to this new race, The Rising Sun.

The interest around what, if any three-year-olds will run in the Cox Plate, is always a huge talking point and the quirk factor of having two three-year-old wildcards spots in The Rising Sun – largely a race for four-year-old pacers – has given it a whole new dimension.

Young Kiwi sensation Krug showed he will add so much to the race, especially the way he so impressively won the Redcliffe Derby last Saturday night. You can go much better than he did, doing a power of work and slicing 0.8sec off the all-aged track record. Watch the replay here.

The Redcliffe track isn’t everyone’s go, but it added so much interest to Krug’s Aussie debut and he delivered … big time.

As good as he was, trainer Cran Dalgety tried to bring some perspective to the post-race hysteria.

“He was fantastic tonight, but I still think he’s got to improve a few lengths to match it with the likes of Expensive Ego,” he said.

But Krug gets the big advantage of a preferential draw in The Rising Sun. If he’s the only three-year-old runner, which now looks close to certain, he’ll get the pole. NSW Derby winner Patsbeachstorm was invited but trainer-driver David Moran concedes he’s not racing well enough to go to Queensland now.

“That’s the beauty of the race, it’s why it’s such a great concept. It’s the only reason we’re running in it. You wouldn’t take on the best four-year-olds if there was a chance you could draw worse than them,” Dalgety said.

There’s a chance Krug could back-up this week at Albion Park, meaning The Rising Sun would be his third run in as many weeks on July 10.

“I’m 50-50 on whether to run him in a sprint race next week,” Dalgety said. “I’ll make the call Monday.”

We now also know champion Kiwi mare Amazing Dream, who beat Copy That and Spankem in the Auckland Cup back on New Year’s Eve, will also tackle The Rising Sun.

If Krug is the only three-year-old and Amazing Dream the only mare in the race, then Amazing Dream will have the decided advantage of barrier two under the preferential draw conditions.

And Mark Purdon is expected to switch out of holiday-mode in Queensland to drive her.

Back to Redcliffe and on a memorable night for the club, Vicki Rasmussen, Shane Graham and passionate owner Jeroen Nieuwenburg combined to win the Group 2 Gold Cup with exciting former Kiwi pacer L L Cool J, who boasts eight wins, two seconds and a third from his 11 Aussie starts.

And exciting juvenile Teddy Disco was simply too strong and classy for his rivals in Redcliffe’s only Group 1 race, the $100,750 Garrards Redcliffe Yearling Sales final.

There was also lots to like about Pete McMullen’s aggressive drive and impressive win on Shes Miss Devine in the Redcliffe Oaks.

Nathan Purdon is really starting to make his mark in Australia.

Former Kiwi mare Spellbound (pictured above), who has been the headline act of his Victorian stable, made it four wins (and a mighty second) from just five Aussie runs when she smashed the clock winning at Menangle last Saturday night. Not only did she run a 1:50.1 mile, but she broke 53 for her own last half. Watch the replay here.

She’s now off to Queensland to join new stablemate, champion Kiwi mare Amazing Dream, to tackle the TAB Constellations Carnival. Purdon is already up there with Amazing Dream.

“Spellbound has really thrived over here and she’ll surprise a few in Queensland if she gets some barrier draws. Her next run will be at Albion Park in the Fleur De Lil on July 10,” Purdon said.

“Amazing Dream will go straight into The Rising Sun. I’ll trial her and give her a really good hitout at Albion Park on Tuesday and that’ll top her off. She doesn’t need a run.

“Anthony Butt will drive her in the big mares’ race (The Golden Girl), but he’s on Copy That in The Rising Sun so I’ll ask Dad (Mark Purdon) if he’ll drive Amazing Dream for us.”

Purdon had a two-state double on Saturday night when former top young Kiwi trotter Enhance Your Calm cruised to a Melton win, making it two wins from as many starts for his stable.

“He surprised me a bit just how easily he won the other night. He’s come back really well,” Purdon said.

Reports over the weekend suggesting WA’s best pacer Shockwave (pictured above) would bypass the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup have been corrected.

Managing owner Kevin Jeavons, who raced former $1.8 million-earner Washakie, said a Victoria Cup was still a very real chance.

“What I said was if COVID-19 restrictions were an issue when we got closer to the race, then we’d stay home and focus on the Fremantle and WA Cups here,” he said. “I’d love to take him across so he can prove himself over there, but we won’t do anything to risk him being here for our biggest races.

“The Victoria Cup is a real chance, but we won’t go to the (Sydney) Inter Dominion. There’s too much travel at a hot time of a year and more travel with heats at Bathurst and Newcastle. Then we’ve only got a few weeks after it to be back and primed for the big races at home.”

Shockwave was stunning again last Friday, sitting parked and winning in brilliant time.

“Aiden (De Campo, driver) said he could’ve gone another lap. He’s so big on him this campaign, he’s sure he’s come back bigger and stronger and his form seems to suggest that,” trainer Ryan Bell said.

“He’s got the free-for-allers covered here at the moment. We’ll keep going through the free-for-alls and then decide on Victoria closer to it.”

It’s long been known females were such a hugely important part of harness racing’s driving ranks long before the likes of Michelle Payne, Jamie Kah and others have grabbed headlines in the thoroughbred world.

But that’s just one example of equality the sport delivers.

Look at Brian Gath. The Living Legend is one of the best and most decorated drivers of all time and he’s still driving metropolitan winners. Gath (pictured above) turns 77 next Monday.

Gath’s drive on Nephew Of Sonoko at Melton last Saturday night was a ripper and served to remind everyone he’s certainly still got it. Click here to watch the replay.

How many other sports do you have a 77-year-old guy competing on equal terms with teenage females. It’s pretty amazing.

By Adam Hamilton