‘No hoof, no horse’ is a well-worn saying in racing but one that John Thompson, thankfully, has not had to worry about as much this campaign with his hope in Saturday’s A$1 million The Gong, Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins).
Bar for a disastrous trip to Melbourne, when he did not appreciate Caulfield, the gelding has turned in his most consistent preparation in a couple of years.
The seven-year-old is yet to win, but has finished second at three of his four starts this campaign, which trainer John Thompson said coincides with his ‘feet’ being the best they have been in a long time.
“He’s always had bad feet and this preparation they’re good,” Thompson said.
“When he’s feeling well, he goes well, it’s as simple as that.
“Not that they’ve ever been really bad, but bad enough to slow him up.”
After a second placing to Old Flame (Invincible Spirit) to start the campaign, Purple Sector was runner-up to subsequent Epsom Handicap winner Top Ranked (Dark Angel) in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) before failing to beat home a rival in the Listed Weekend Hussler (1400m) at Caulfield.
He returned to Sydney to run second in the Filante Stakes (1600m) on October 22 and was kept up to the mark with a 1257m trial win at Randwick on November 8.
“At the moment he’s in great order, he ran well the other day, he’s had a little freshen up, trialled nicely last week, he looks fantastic and this a race we’ve had in mind for a while.
“We’ve just been keeping him fresh and happy.”
Purple Sector will be ridden by Reece Jones in the 1600-metre The Gong, in which they will start from barrier one.