All Stars principal, Mark Purdon, invested time and money into finding the best buys available on both sides of the Tasman and is in the process of allotting shares in a number of the 15 horses he signed for in Melbourne, Auckland and Christchurch. One of the those available at reasonable money is the Courage Under Fire colt from Under the Mattress which Mark bought in Australia.He had not originally intended to get involved but so liked the colt that he went to $52,000 to ensure the colt would ship to New Zealand.

If you think that is quite a bit of money for a Courage you may be right. But not if you heard Mark talk about him. And not if you watched Secret Potion win the Great Northern Oaks on Friday night.

"He was not on our short list but we had not really gone into his credentials as we had some others. They asked me to look at him as the vendors thought he had something going for him. He really took my eye. Big strong colt and from a good old tough family. I decided to bid on him and was surprised by the competition. I have had a lot of luck with Courage Under Fire stock and I would not have brought this one home unless I thought he would really make the grade''

Shares in this colt are still available. Contact Mark direct at 0272780642 or macca@xtra.co.nz for further information. By the time the Auckland cup meeting is over he might look like the bargain he is !

You will have to hurry now to join the All Stars team and its future plans after a successful Parade Day at Rolleston, Sunday. Five colts and one filly were paraded in which shares would still be available. By the end of the day there was still shares available in the COURAGE UNDER FIRE colt bought in Australia, and in the ART MAJORr filly bought at the same sale with other spaces being assessed at the end of the day.

A good crowd was greeted by All Stars's principals, Mark and Grant, and their wives, Jan and Vicki along with the staff and master of ceremonies Peter Lagan. The colts were (right ro left in the photo) a Bettor's Delight-Tosca Hanover, a striking Western Terror colt which proved popular on the day, the Sundon colt bought in Melbourne (one share may still be available in him) and the Christian Cullen -Bluejeanbabyjean colt wihich also has a share available.

"Considering the numbe of horses we had available this year it has been a very pleasing result'' Mark said. "There are still some shares available and at reasonable prices but they will not last long the way things are going. It is quite encouraging actually.

Two stars - Mark Purdon and PM John Key

*NICOLE DELIVERS A SECRET POTION TO WIN THE OAKS-TO TACKLE DERBY AND RUSSLEY RASCAL.

*MARK PREVIEWS THE BIG NIGHT AT ALEXANDRA PARK !NEWS PAGE

*MARK PURDON active at Karaka and Christchurch sales

*67/1 !- ALL STARS DIVIDEND RECORD AT WYNDHAM.

*LANCOME GETS JUSTICE AT ADDINGTON

*MEREDITH MAGUIRE THRILLS MARK IN TRIAL-NEWS PAGE

"LONG TIME HARNESS SUPPORTERS TAKE OUT THE NEVELE R STAKES AT ADDINGTON

*JAMES SALUTES THE JUDGE -AND THE CROWD

*HIGHVIEW TOMMY OUT OF INTERDOMS-FOR AUCKLAND CUP

*THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN !!!!!!!!-READ ALL ABOUT IT-NEWS PAGE

+ALL STARS SET NEW STANDARDS AT ALEXANDRA PARK !!!!-NEWS PAGE

*BREATH OF LIFE MAKES MARK FIRST TO REACH 1000 RACE DOUBLE

*2000 WINS ? "I'M NOT CHASING IT'' MARK'S REACTION TO TRIUMPH

CHECK OUR NEWS PAGE-OR OUR ARCHIVE PAGES FOR OLDER STORIES.

Auckland Reactor. We will remember "Mac" and Jeremy Clark

At 3am on Friday morning, AUCKLAND REACTOR walked out of his stall at All Star Stables for the last time, boarding a float bound for Auckland and on to the United States. With him will be JEREMY YOUNG who has been with the Mach Three stallion for a good while now and took him to the Brisbane Interdominions last year. The supestar, the best horse Mark Purdon has trained, leaves behind an imposing record, not only in races won, but in the sensational times he achieved winning them. Even the hardened stablehands at All Stars, who have seen a lot of good horses come and go admit it is just not going to be the same around the place for quite a while.

"He is such a good horse to do anything with'' co trainer Grant Payne said. "You get used to having a stable star like that, an exciting horse that everyone is talking about. Sometimes horses like that can be a bit of a trial and the pressure can be high. Nothing seemed to bother Mac and he was great to have around as well as to watch race.''

Auckland Reactor crosses the Cook Strait Friday morning, overnights at Bulls, and then heads to Auckland on Saturday. He is due to fly out to his new home in New Jersey on Monday.

If it is a new experience for the track star it is just as much for Clark.

"I don't know what to expect in some ways and am pretty confident about things in others.'' Clark said pointing to the small huddle of gear, including hopples, he will take with him.

"I'll have to take a bit of gear for myself too I guess. it will be pretty cool up there '' he said as Trackside staff filmed some final footage of one of the greatest pacers to have raced in New Zealand.

"We will be based on a farm in New Jersey. There are quite a few Aussies training there. I am just hoping he can show them how good he is''

Auckland Reactor leaves in the pink of condition after a spell at Chevalier Farm. Those who thought the New Zealand Free For All was an anti-climax can only hope they will be cheering a 1:47 or better mile at the Meadowlands later this year. He is certainly capable of it.

So long "Mac" the gentleman champion. May the force be with you.

Grant Payne

All Stars Stable at Rolleston can use one word to sum up its aims in all its racing and ownership fields. That word is excellence. New Zealand's leading harness stable has facilities for the horses equal to anything you would find in the southern hemisphere and superior to many you would find in the northern hemisphere. Those facilities-a barn which any horse would rate as five star accommodation, a number of training tracks including a straight line track unique to New Zealand harness racing and every appointment necessary to allow a horse to develop its full potential-would not be of a great deal of use without the people working with them having the skill and the will to be just the best.

MARK PURDON is a household name in harness racing, a man who has had stunning success since taking up public training in the Auckland area in the mid 1990's and achieving something extremely rare in New Zealand racing-shifting to the heartland of New Zealand harness racing, Canterbury, and rising to the top against fierce competition from long established stables. Mark's ability to select the right types from the sale ring and nurse young horses through juvenile triumphs to match the best of older horses as they age is a distinguishing feature of his career. He has also driven 1000 winners but stable success comes before personal egos. So in BLAIR ORANGE he has a stable driver of high calibre easily able to step into the master's seat when-as so often happens-All Stars has multiple entries in major races.

GRANT PAYNE, Mark's training partner, is the unsung hero of All Stars. A quiet achiever with a lifetime of horsemanship behind him, he ensures the nuts and bolts of the stable routine work like a well oiled machine. A fine horseman in his own right, his skills are an ideal foil for Mark Purdon who can always be rest assured in his absence that All Stars it ticking over like clockwork.

Grant's wife, JAN, and her sister, Mark's wife, VICKI, also play a major role in the smooth running of All Stars both with hands on help in the stable and in Vicki's case handling the running of a multi-million dollar business.

All this points to the EXCELLENCE All Stars aims for. Excellence among their track performers, excellence liasing with owners and stable supporters, excellence in presentation and excellence in delivering what owners want -raceday success-while feeling part of the All Stars team. You are always free to join us on our winning crusade. We will make you more than welcome and you will know we will deliver only the best in service and performance.

Anyone with a good worth ethic, who likes to have a feeling of working closely with a team, enjoys all aspects of horse work, wants to work in ideal surroundings and can feel the glamour of being associated with one of the great stables in New Zealand harness history is always welcome at All Stars. We have a hard core of loyal supporters who enjoy working with one another but often there is the chance of a vacancy which could appeal to you whether you want to make your way in horse racing itself and want to learn from the masters or whether you would like a change and can be confident of top class working conditions, good wages, plenty of fun and a settled routine in one of the best organised stables in New Zealand.

Feel tempted ? You never know your luck. Try 0274780642 and talk about it with Mark Purdon. There's nobody better to explain it all to you or to prove that this is a workplace where you know you will be happy.