Things just get Bettor for Nathan as top filly flies in

Champion Kiwi harness racing trainer Mark Purdon is content watching on TV from home when another one of his stable stars race for a new trainer at Geelong on Saturday night.

Admittedly, he is keeping it in the family with New Zealand’s superstar three-year-old filly Bettor Twist joining the stable of Purdon’s son, Nathan, for an extended Victorian raid.

It’s a sign of things to come. Even when COVID-19 travel restrictions ease, Mark Purdon, who recently returned to training after a “much needed break away from it”, said his days of spending big chunks away from home at major Aussie carnivals were largely a thing of the past.

“It’s fantastic having Nathan over there now, set-up and doing so well,” he said. “We’ve got so much on here with the NZ Cup Carnival just around the corner. I can’t see myself getting over there anytime soon.”

The new strategy was tried, tested and stunningly successful when champion mare Amazing Dream was sent across to Nathan to train for the Queensland Constellations Winter Carnival. She won the big Group 1 double, the Rising Sun and Blacks A Fake.

She’s since added the Group 2 Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup and is favourite to snare another feature in the Group 2 Flying Brick Cider Co. Geelong Pacing Cup on Saturday night.

A few weeks back, Amazing Dream was joined at Nathan’s Lara stables, near Geelong, by another Kiwi pacing queen, the country’s standout three-year-old filly Bettor Twist.

A winner of 12 of her 17 starts and six from seven this season, Bettor Twist steps out for her first Australian run in the Allied Express 3YO Classic (2100m) at Geelong on Saturday night.

Bettor Twist hasn’t raced since posting her sixth Group 1 win with a stunning display in the Harness Jewels final at Cambridge on June 6.

“She had a couple of trials back in NZ and a soft trial here (Geelong) last Monday night, but I have to say she will need this run … she’s about 90 per cent, but she needs the run with the Breeders Crown heats only two weeks away,” Nathan said.

“You can tell she’s a bit special at home and she’s so good, I’m sure she’ll be very competitive this week, but she will strip a lot fitter for the run this week.

“She’s straight into the deep end, too. It’s a very strong race. Beach Music looks the best of the locals (in the race).”

It’s a huge night for Purdon with three of his stable stars in action at Geelong. Amazing Dream is a hot favourite from the pole in the Cup, while brilliant mare Spellbound is expected to continue on her winning way in the Group 3 Angelique Club Pace.

“It’s exciting, especially being at Geelong, which is my new home track,” he said.

“As much as Amazing Dream hasn’t been at her best leading, I think we have to try and hold the front from the pole this week,” he said. “Her bloods showed she was just a bit off her game in the Victoria Cup last time and I’ve changed her training around a bit to try and help her when she’s in front.

“Spellbound is so exciting. She was fantastic first-up after doing a lot of work in the last lap and she’ll only be better for that run. I’m sure she’s the one to beat again.”

Amazing Dream and Spellbound are then headed for a showdown for the crown of Australia’s best mare in the $100,000 Group 1 Benstud Queen of the Pacific at Melton on Saturday week.

To view the fields for Geelong on Saturday night click here.

By Adam Hamilton for HRV