NZ HARNESS NEWS
An untimely illness has likely seen the end of Jack’s Legend’s season with trainer Barry Purdon conceding he has run out of time to get him ready for upcoming features.
The Taylor Mile and New Zealand Messenger, both four-year-old features at Alexandra Park later this month, were to be the seasonal swansong for the New Zealand Cup place-getter.
But shortly after a huge deal to buy the son of Bettor’s Delight fell over last month, he got sick and it’s put him on the back foot.
“I still have to speak to the owners and confirm it, but it doesn’t look promising,” said Purdon on Thursday.
“He got a really bad cold, a nasty one that turned out to be viral, and he’s only just getting over it now.
“He’s on the improve but has missed a lot of work and I’m not hopeful of getting him ready in time.”
Purdon expects to tip the horse out for a well-earned spell by the end of the week.
“He’s only ever had a three-week spell in his life so it will do him good to have a nice, long break.”
Jack’s Legend’s absence, combined with that of Vincent and Ultimate Machete, will springboard Star Galleria in to favouritism, along with the first two home in the Easter Cup, A G’s White Socks and More The Better.
Purdon is in Christchurch for a couple of days, preparing On The Cards for tomorrow night’s Group 1 $200,000 New Zealand Pacing Derby at Addington.
“He’s travelled down well – he only got here in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
“But he ate up well last night and had a light hopple this morning.”
A wide draw, with plenty of speed inside him, has Purdon thinking driver Zachary Butcher only has one move.
“He has got the gate speed, but I’d say we’ll drop back early.
“He’s just too far out there at eight; we have had a go if he drew five or six, but it’s too risky from eight.”
A forward showing is expected and Purdon thinks On The Cards can turn around his Northern Derby failure, where he worked hard in the parked position outside Chase Auckland on a national record speed.
“I’m very happy with the horse and if he ran in the money I would not be shocked, even from that draw.
“I’m hopefully he will get the right run and follow the right horse in to the finish.”
- NZ Harness News
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