By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Sherlock was backed into $1.50 favouritism for Friday’s Group 1 Alabar 3YO Classic (2200m) at Alexandra Park and he had to call on all his qualities to reward his backers.
From his front row draw, driver Blair Orange elected to burn off the gate with Sherlock, however, his inside rivals had the same idea and he was posted three wide for the first 400m.
When Sherlock was about to enter the parked position, Son Of Mac was navigated out of the trail by driver Tony Herlihy to go around and wrestle the lead off Neptune, and it wasn’t until entering the homeward bend that Sherlock was finally able to capture the front.
Despite doing a power of work early in the race, Sherlock still had plenty in the tank as he entered the final bend and was able to hold off the challenge of a fresher Son Of Mac to win by a neck, while stablemate Sinbad ran on well for third.
Mark Purdon was pleased with Sherlock’s efforts, particularly given the energy he spent early on in the Group Two feature.
“It was a fast lead time and he had to do a bit of work over that first 400m, so it was a good effort to still hold out the challengers,” he said.
Sherlock is raced by Jean Feiss who purchased him out of Spreydon Lodge’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft for $67,500.
Purdon was just as pleased with Sinbad’s run for third and he believes he will be a strong contender in three-year-old features as the season progresses.
“Sinbad finished off nicely and with a good draw next time around I think he will take some beating. I don’t think there was much between them,” he said.
Sinbad was another yearling purchase for Feiss, whose $26,000 bid secured the son Downbytheseaside out of Woodlands Stud’s draft at the same sale.
