Nathan Purdon is back here in Victoria for the first time since his shift home to New Zealand late last year and has returned with a team set to tackle some of our richest features for young horses.

Purdon is based temporarily with Greg Sugars and Jess Tubbs at Larajay Farm in Myrniong, and with him is four standardbreds who will be aimed at various major targets across the coming months.

Three-year-old pacing gelding The Real Sherlock is here alongside two-year-old trotting fillies High Step and We Can Have It All, as well as three-year-old squaregaiting filly High Energy.

The Real Sherlock - known simply as Sherlock in New Zealand - is a two-time Group 1 runner-up and winner of five career starts, High Energy won the elite level Ace Of Hearts to cap an unbeaten two-year-old season in December and High Step remains a maiden from two appearances at the races.

But it’s We Can Have It All that Purdon is most excited about, believing there’s a big across-Tasman preparation in store for the daughter of Volstead.

“She’s quite nice,” Purdon said.

“I think she’ll have a good campaign everything going smoothly.

“She’s got the whole package, really. She can leave the gate hard, drops the bit, she’s tough or she’s fast.

“She’s got everything. It doesn’t really matter how you drive her, she should be competitive if she turns up healthy and well on the day.”

The Vicbred, Need For Speed and Breeders Crown series are high on the agenda for Purdon and his team, with Oaks, Derby and Redwood Classic (for High Step) races also on the radar through until the end of November.

“It’s probably more so why we’ve got three trotters here, because there’s nowhere near as much money on offer in New Zealand than what there is in Australia for trotters,” Purdon said.

“I’d like to try get home for two or three weeks after the Vicbred finals and before the Derby and Need for Speed series come along.”

Purdon, 27, spent the best part of two seasons training in Victoria before returning back home to commence a partnership with legendary father Mark in late 2022.

His stint based here included five Group 1 wins, with Amazing Dream (Rising Sun, Blacks A Fake and Queen of the Pacific), Spellbound (Ladyship Cup) and Amore Vita (Vicbred 2YO Fillies Final) all claiming races at the top level.

High Energy will be Purdon’s first starter of the trip when she lines up in the Saddleworld Shepparton Trotters Oaks on Friday night.

The daughter of Father Patrick has gate 11 in the field of 12, with Sugars to take the drive in the $12,000 feature.