Champion harness racing trainer Mark Purdon turned his talents to the galloping code on Saturday at Ellerslie, winning his first thoroughbred race with Buster Shaw (NZ) (War Decree).
With over 2600 victories to his name preparing standardbreds, Purdon took on a new challenge in mid-2023, stepping into the thoroughbred industry in the South Island, before moving to his new base at Matamata.
Among his first runners was Buster Shaw, a four-year-old by War Decree who narrowly missed scoring during New Zealand Cup Week in 2023, and had been lightly-raced since then with Saturday’s TAB 1600 just his eighth start.
Well-related galloper Wind Rush was the odds-on favourite for the maiden contest at $1.60, while Buster Shaw flew under the radar, starting a $17 hope in the hands of Jasmine Fawcett. Wind Rush led from the outset and set a solid tempo, while Buster Shaw found a comfortable position off the rail in fourth.
The favourite clung on to the lead for majority of the straight but a swarm of horses were hunting him down, with Buster Shaw coming out on top in a blanket finish where the first five home were separated by half a length.
Fresh off a successful evening at the Night Of Champions in Cambridge on Friday, Purdon was thrilled to get on the board in his new venture.
“He had a little bit of time between races, but he’s certainly tightened up from then to now and he’s got the job done,” he said.
“I don’t get too excited because I’m still learning, but I’ve had a lot of help from some of the trainers there (at Matamata). I must make mention of Andrew Scott and Lance (O’Sullivan), they’ve been really good to me.
“It’s been a help in preparing him.”
Purdon races Buster Shaw alongside co-breeder Kerry Shaw, one of two gallopers he has in work.
“I’ve just got two, if I was younger I would (have more horses) but I’ve left my run a bit late,” he said. “I’m enjoying my hobby.
“He was given to me by Kerry Shaw who is a good friend, he encouraged me and there were times where I wasn’t sure whether I should be thanking him or cursing him, but he was really the turning point that got me involved.
“We’ve had a fun journey so far.”
Training in partnership with his son Nathan, Purdon had prepared and driven two winners at Cambridge’s feature meeting in Andretti and Without You, while Chase A Dream finished a gallant second behind superstar pacer Leap To Fame in the $1 million The Race By Betcha.
Purdon reflected positively on the evening, despite his top-class trotter Oscar Bonavena galloping away his chances in the $600,000 TAB Trot.
“I’ve run a great race and been beaten by the best horse in Australasia (Leap To Fame), he probably could be the best horse in the world,” he said. “For a young horse (Chase A Dream) coming out of two and three-year-old racing to take on the older horses like that, I was very proud of him.
“We won a couple on the night, Oscar was the one that let us down and he could’ve been here today the way he went. It was a great night and great for the industry.”