Barring a virus ripping through the barn, it's hard to make a case for the All Stars stable not winning all of the major 3-year-old races.
When you think about the best 3-year-old's in Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen's stable, Motu Premier is not a name that comes to mind.
But Mark Purdon is not so sure.
Lazarus turned in a performance for the ages to down stablemate Chase The Dream in the Sires Stakes final on cup day and now Motu Premier has produced an ultra impressive win in the $30,000 3-year-old colts and geldings conciliation at Addington Raceway on Friday night.
Motu Premier's performance was enough to confirm his trip to Auckland and Purdon believes he will be a live contender with his high profile stablemates in the big money races.
"He's not far behind them (his stablemates) at all," Purdon said.
That is a major accolade when you also have the unbeaten Waikiki Beach waiting in the wings but Purdon believes Motu Premier can push them all close if the cards fall his way in the running.
"He's actually right up there with them," he said.
The All Stars stable picked up the other feature on the card when Golden Goddess won the third heat of the Sires Stakes 3-year-old fillies series by four and a half lengths.
The blistering effort was enough for bookmakers to move the Australian bred Art Major filly into $3.20 favouritism for the final at Alexandra Park on New Years Eve ahead of stablemates Arden's Choice and Piccadilly Princess who are both at $4.80.
Golden Goddess paced the 1950m in 2:19.7 with a final last quarter of 26.1.
Arden's Choice was second with the Nigel McGrath trained Kashana a distant third.
Piccadilly Princess was a comfortable winner at Alexandra Park on Friday night over Cyclone Kate and Bettor Think Quick who is an $8 chance in the futures market for the Sires Stakes final.
The All Stars stable won four races at Alexandra Park and two at Addington.
Purdon confirmed that unbeaten filly Dream About Me will not contest the final heat of the Sires Stakes series for 3-year-old fillies in Auckland on December 11.
The classy Bettor's Delight filly who is a half sister to Christen Me, has been given an extended break after winning eight races from as many starts in her 2-year-old season.
Her 3-year-old campaign will mirror that of unbeaten colt Waikiki Beach who like Dream About Me won a Breeders Crown final in Victoria on August 30.
Meanwhile, former Canterbury pacer No Doctor Needed upset dominant favourite The Orange Agent in the feature pace at Alexandra Park.
Having his first start for the Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick barn after formally being successfully campaigned by Robert Dunn.
The Orange Agent will have lost few of her many admirers when going down by a nose to No Doctor Needed, who had a much softer trip, but the disappointment of the race was Sky Major.
Barry Purdon found the one-one with a lap to go but he was a beaten horse on the home bend.
Mat Kermeen
Reproduced with permission of Stuff NZ – Check site here