By Michael Guerin
Punters shouldn’t be concerned by High Energy’s lack of right-handed experience for her Alexandra Park debut tonight because trainer Mark Purdon isn’t.
The unbeaten trotting filly (6-6) will be a hot favourite in the $27,000 What The Hill Oaks and is the first leg of a double rare even for Purdon as in the next race he has the also unbeaten pacing filly Millwood Nike (12-12).
That is two fillies unbeaten in a combined 18 starts and you could spend a lot of time thinking about it before you could come up with a trainer who had had two unbeaten stars so deep into their careers.
Both have drawn the outside of the front line in their small-field sprints but the greatest difference, apart from the hopples, is Millwood Nike is proven at Alexandra Park whereas High Energy isn’t and the first start on the right-handed track has tripped up better horses than her before.
High Energy didn’t boost Purdon’s confidence initially when she lay in finishing second to All Cashed Up at the Pukekohe workouts last weekend but her champion trainer is happier with her this week.
“I’m glad we gave her that workout because it enabled me to see the issue and remedy it,” says Purdon.
“I have put a rein burr on her and she has been respecting that and trotting better so I think she will be fine on Thursday.
“She is a very good filly, so without looking too much into the depth of the field, they will need to be good to beat her.”
There is some quality to the line-up, with The Ivy League winning well on her Alexandra Park debut last Friday and since being officially transferred to Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.
Others like Kiss And Run, Walkinonsunshine and Virginia Clowers are all showing promise but it is hard to see them beating the best High Energy.
High Energy’s little sister High Step makes her career debut in race 3, the two-year-old trot and is rated a natural by Purdon.
But she will need to be good to beat The Moonstone, who was massive overcoming an early gallop to win last start and looks a young filly with plenty of scope.
Millwood Nike will be everybody’s multi anchor as punters look to add $1.08 worth of interest to their bets on a night when multis are going to be the go-to for many punters.
Meanwhile, Purdon has confirmed both Akuta and Self Assured will be set for the Roy Purdon Memorial on May 19 as their lead-ups to the Auckland Cup the following Friday.
