NZ HARNESS NEWS
The connections of Jack’s Legend were rewarded for their patience with a feature win at Cambridge on Thursday night.
He proved too slick for stablemate On The Cards in the Group 2 $50,000 Cambridge Futurity Stakes, for four and five-year-olds.
The speedster, a former Group 1 winner and place-getter in last season’s New Zealand Cup, had gone nine starts without a win this season.
That’s not to say he was out of form – he placed in the New Zealand Free For All and Auckland Cup – but he had been unable to defeat Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained runners in his last six starts.
There were none of those around this week and new driver Scott Phelan took advantage, grabbing the early lead then capitalizing on a passing lane run to defeat On The Cards and Zachary Butcher.
Trainer Barry Purdon was thrilled to get back in the winner’s circle with his stable star.
“It was really encouraging and I was very pleased.
“Thrilled with both of them, really.
“It was a bit of a drop back for Jack’s Legend compared to the Flying Mile at his last start.
“So that gave us confidence to use his gate speed and head forward early.”
Purdon said the decision to stick with On The Cards was ultimately Butcher’s, but he did give him a push in that direction.
“Potentially, in the future, I think On The Cards is going to be a pretty damn nice horse.
“So, I was the one who suggested it as I think it will end up best in the long run for him.”
Both horses will stay in New Zealand for the rest of the season, a Free For All at Alexandra Park in three weeks the next target.
“Then there are two races at the Auckland carnival for them in early March.
“Jack’s Legend could then go to Christchurch for the Easter Cup while On The Cards will stay home and target the four-year-old races at Auckland in the Autumn.”
Tony Cameron got the job done with his boss in Australia, driving three winners from three starters for Tony Herlihy.
Herlihy is in Melbourne preparing Temporale for Saturday night’s Great Southern Star so Cameron took the reins on Fortunato, L L Cool J and Cowgirls N Angels.
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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