It will be quite nostalgic when two of Mark Purdon’s big guns arrive in Melbourne next week.

While Purdon’s return to Melbourne for the first time in four years is a coup for Harness Racing Victoria and harness fans, the champion trainer admits he himself is as excited as anybody.

For all of Purdon’s success in NZ and through many parts of Australia, he looks back on his early days as a trainer and many successful trips to Melbourne as some of the most enjoyable times of his stellar career.

“I was out at dinner the other night with some of our staff, including Brooke Wilkins, who has spent so much time in Victoria, and said those early Moonee Valley days were fantastic. The great racing, all the people we met. I was really reminiscing about it,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back over and seeing so many people I haven’t caught up with for a few years now. I’ve made so many friends on all the trips over the years.”

Kiwis like Purdon, his brother Barry, Tim and Anthony Butt and Cran Dalgety were key players in making the then Summer Of Glory a truly Trans-Tasman contest and added to much depth of talent – horse and human – to races like the Victoria and Hunter Cups, Victoria Derby and major trotting races.

Purdon’s stars back in those days were headlined by the likes of Pride Of Petite, Buster Hanover, Young Rufus and Sharp And Telford.

Of course, he’s been back a lot since – to Melton instead of the Valley – and snared majors with Lazarus, Smolda and others.

But, largely due to the pandemic but also an evolving racing calendar, Purdon hasn’t come across himself with any of his stars since running Self Assured in the Ballarat Cup and 4YO Bonanza (he ran second in both) in 2020.

It just adds so much class, flair and quality to have Purdon back with at least two, maybe even three, of his stable’s biggest stars this month.

Akuta is clearly NZ’s best pacer and will be looking to atone for his second to Aussie raider, Swayzee, in the NZ Cup on November 14.

Most Kiwis wouldn’t hear of him being beaten that day, but simply found the big Aussie staying brute Swayzee too strong.

While Purdon’s dominance has often seen him arrive with almost an expectation of success, he admits it’s different with Akuta.

“He’s a terrific horse, but I’ve got great respect for the best Aussie pacers and know it’s a step-up from what he’s been racing at home,” he said.

“We decided to make this trip with a bit of hope … hope that some of the biggest names might be missing after the Inter Dominion, but also hoping Akuta can step-up a bit. Either way, I’m glad we’re coming, as I’m sure it’ll be good for Akuta’s development, too.”

Akuta opens his Victoria raid in Saturday week’s $100,000 Ballarat Cup and goes on to the $500,000 Hunter Cup on February 3.

Only then will Purdon decide whether to push on to chase the Miracle Mile or return home to focus on races like the Race by Grins, Messenger and Auckland Cup.

Arriving with Akuta will be Purdon’s Chariots Of Fire hopeful, Don’t Stop Dreaming. He actually upstaged Akuta, albeit with a 15m advantage in handicaps, when they clashed in the Franklin Cup at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve.

It’s likely Don’t Stop Dreaming will clash again with Akuta and others in Saturday week’s Ballarat Cup.

But he will switch to the $100,000 4YO Bonanza instead of the Hunter Cup on February 3, with a view to getting his ticket into the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle three weeks later.

Unfortunately, it is looking less likely by the day that Purdon will add his star trotter Oscar Bonavena to the travelling party. He would have been a welcome “fresh” flavour to take Aussie champ Just Believe.

“It’s not that I don’t want him to come, it’s more what’s best for him because there is a lot on for him back home,” he said.

“It’s taken some work to get him back to his top and it might be in his best interests to stay home.

“We’ll decide in the next couple of weeks, but if he does come, it’ll just be for the Dullard Cup (January 27) and the Great Southern Star (February 3).

“It’s looking less likely than likely he will head over.”
 

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.