That factor might have assisted Texas Holdem and Report For Duty in feature wins there today as both impressively sustained front running tactics.

Mark Purdon adopted "catch me if you can'' tactics with Texas Holdem in the $50,000 PGG Wrightson Yearling Aged Pace (2400 metres) and Report For Duty (Anthony Butt) did likewise in the $50,000 Alabar Kaikoura Cup (Gr 2) of 2400 metres.

Texas Holdem is another success story for the Met Four Syndicate managed by Bill Andrews.

The capable son of Falcon Seelster has now won six of his 15 starts and has also been three times second and once third for stakes of almost $75,000.

Texas Holdem was snapped up at the 2006 PGG Wrightson Yearling Sale in Christchurch.

A sizzling beginning played a major part in the favourite finding the front almost instantly from one on the 10 metre mark.

Purdon, adopting aggressive and daring tactics, shot for the front when front liners moved out a shade early.

From the moment he made the front, the fate of his rivals was seemingly sealed when he reeled off undeniable fractions of 56.5 and 28.2 from the front for the last 800 and 400, respectively.

Purdon and training partner Grant Payne were credited with their 24th training win of the season and backed up with Mercurio to make it 25 in the Donegal House Mobile Pace.

Mercurio will be reined by Purdon in the $200,000 NRM Sires' Stakes Final on Cup Day next Tuesday (11 November).

Purdon maintains that Highview Tommy (Blair Orange) will be the pick of his quartet that has qualified for the Sires' Final.

Texas Holdem was credited with the outstanding overall time of 2:59.32 for the 2400 metres (stand), representing a mile rate of 2:00.2 in his length and a half success.

Texas Holdem showed some grim resolve when it began to hurt inside the last 200 metres, that resilience serving to complement his early brilliance.

Absolute Magic, who did a power of work throughout, sometimes parked, was a brave and worthy runner-up, stalling off Bettor's Delight's whirlwind late charge by only half a head for second.

In a fast run race, visitor All Tiger was another who covered himself in glory with a gutsy fourth from the 20 metre mark in a fast run race..

Texas Holdem is, of course, a shade below the top order 4 Year Olds but Purdon and Payne seem set to win more with the every day representative of the family that produced top performers Courtier and Highland Raider in earlier years.

This Lopez Star branch of the Logan Princess taproot also produced Lopez Macfaber, a prolific International winner who gained 20 wins in Macau.

Don WRIGHT