Mark Purdon will add to the already stunning star-power of the inaugural The Rising Sun by taking the reins on glamour Kiwi mare Amazing Dream.
Purdon’s son, Nathan, recently took over training Amazing Dream, who will start from gate three under the preferential draw conditions of Saturday night’s new $250,000 feature (9.45pm NZT).
“Dad’s taking a break from holiday to drive her, which is great,” Nathan confirmed. “He’ll also drive my other mare Spellbound in the mares’ race on the night.”
It sounds like Kiwi young gun Krug will go for an all-the-way win in The Rising Sun after drawing barrier one. He could only draw one or two with the two three-year-olds in the race getting those barriers.
“Barrier one is a bonus. He’s definitely got the speed to take advantage of the draw. It’s a bit of a sacrifice to use the draw, he’ll spend a bit more than others at the start so it’s just a matter of he’s still got enough left at the finish,” trainer Cran Dalgety said.
“I couldn’t have him any better going into it. That win at Redcliffe really topped him off.”
The biggest challenger to Krug holding the early lead is Victorian raider Kowalski Analysis, who has explosive gate speed and barrier four to try and use it.
Dalgety is still sweating on Krug’s driver with the COVID-19 travel restrictions meaning top Kiwi reinsman Blair Orange is waiting on a verdict whether he can travel across.
“Blair’s bursting to drive the horse, but he won’t know until tomorrow (Tuesday) when our Prime Minister reassesses the travel bubble,” he said.
Dalgety’s joy was a contrast to his fellow Kiwi trainer, Ray Green, who almost spoke through gritted teeth after last week’s stunning Albion Park winner Copy That drew the worst possible barrier (13).
“You have to take the rough with the smooth, so we’ll take it,” he said. “He’s pulled-up really well from the big win last week.
“Anthony Butt managed to overcome a bad draw last week on him, there’s no reason he can’t do it again this week.”
Dalgety still rates Team McCarthy’s young star Expensive Ego as the one to beat despite drawing the back row (gate nine).
“After watching him the past two weeks, I’m a wee scared of him,” he said. “He seems to be able to cruise along in the middle of the track and still win.”
The Aussie TAB has Expensive Ego a slight $2.70 favourite from Krug ($3), Copy That ($7.50), Kowalski Analysis ($9) and Spirit Of St Louis ($10). Amazing Dream is a $12 shot.
The Rising Sun :
$250,000. 2138m. Albion Park Saturday night.
Front row
1. Krug
2. Kashed Up
3. Amazing Dream
4. Kowalski Analysis
5. Bundoran
6. Ilikemebettor (emerg)
7. Send It
Back row
8. Blacksadance
9. Expensive Ego
10. Spirit Of St Louis
11. Crunch Time
12. Mach Da Vinci
13. Copy That