Mark Purdon is glad he had to send his trio of stars from Christchurch to Perth so early for the Inter Dominion Carnival.
A long, multi-stop trip via Sydney and Melbourne took a fair bit out of Smolda, Piccadilly Princess and Mr Mojito.
“They will have been here almost 12 days by the time they line-up this week and that’s been important,” Purdon said. “I got here three days after the horses did and it was noticeable the had all lightened-off.
“But this past week has been really good. They all look and seem great again now.”
Purdon’s lone Inter Dominion runner Smolda has already attracted betting support ($5.50 into $4.50) despite drawing the outside barrier (nine) in the second of Friday night’s opening round heats.
“The draw isn’t great, but he’s can do some work if he has to and still be right there at the finish,” Purdon said.
Hardest for Smolda to beat will be local injury-plagued speedster Bettors Fire if he is able to pounce on the lead as many expect from gate three.
Others in the mix include John Of Arc (gate five), Yankee Rockstar (six) and Ohoka Punter (10).
The draw is ideal for Ohoka Punter as the lone back row runner with new trainer Gary Hall Sr conceding a recent health scare means the high-class pacer will be a touch underdone for Friday night.
Purdon’s bad luck with draws extended to Mr Mojito, who will need luck inside the back row in the $125,000 Group 1 McInerney Ford 4YO Classic (2536m).
Judging by his past two NZ wins, Mr Mojito is the best horse in the field, but a lot will depend on where Purdon lands from the draw and whether he can see daylight when it matters.
Kim Prentice’s recent stable addition Soho Tribeca (five) and Gary Hall Sr’s Chicago Bull (six) are the main dangers.
Purdon’s fears a handicapping quirk could deny his star mare Piccadilly Princess a start in the $50,000 Norms Daughter Classic (2130m) turned into reality.
Despite being open-class in NZ, Piccadilly Princess is an M0 (city class maiden) under the Aussie handicapping system and thus was balloted from the feature race due to a clause giving preference to M1 or higher graded mares.
“It’s disappointing. Yes, we should have looked into the conditions deeper, but it’s hard to believe a filly who’s done as much as her can’t make the cut. I hope the change the rule in future for their own so they ensure they get the best possible field,” Purdon said.
Piccadilly Princess would have started favourite from just about any draw in the Norms Daughter.
On a brighter note, fears the four-year-old may not get a start at Friday night’s meeting at all did not eventuate.
She has drawn gate four in the opening race – a consolation of the McInerney Ford Classic – and a win will ensure she escapes the ballot for the two remaining mares’ features during the Inter Dominion Carnival.
Adam Hamilton