NZ HARNESS NEWS
Purvis returns to Canterbury to train
Junior driver Matt Purvis has taken a leap of faith and returned to Canterbury to set up his own stable.
The horseman is renting a property adjacent to Rangiora racecourse and is in the first week of his new venture.
At 27 years old, Purvis decided it was time to give training a red-hot crack.
“It’s that time when you weigh up whether you want to be a stablehand your whole life and stay on the same money.’’
“I have rented Ken Odgers’ place right across the road from the race track.”
“It has got a jog track there and you can just whip them across the road to the racetrack for fast work.’’
Purvis will soon add quality three-year-old Born To Run to the team of five horses he has in work at his new stable already.
“He is coming, he is going to stay at the Dunns’ until after the New Zealand Derby, but he will come to me after that so that will be great to start off with a horse like him.”
Having a derby quality horse should boost the rookie trainer’s profile as he sets about establishing his career.
If his name catches the eye of potential owners Purvis would welcome their calls.
“It would be good to expand a wee bit; it’s always good to have horses coming through.
“My phone is always on.”
Purvis has been working for Southland trainer Nathan Williamson since the winter of 2016 and said leaving was a tough decision.
“It wasn’t an easy decision. It was more that I was not going to find a place as cost effective as this in Southland.’’
“I was quite happy to stay as I was doing in Southland but this place came up and I jumped on it.’’
Purvis will be a regular Southland visitor as he looks to maximise the opportunities his last two seasons as a junior driver will offer him.
Tornado Valley likely for Auckland features
Last Saturday night’s Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix winner, Tornado Valley, is destined to return to his homeland, according to his Victorian trainer Andy Gath.
The Skyvalley gelding was a recent purchase by Queenslander Norm Jenkin out Terry McMillan’s Ashburton stable and won the A$100,000 feature at his third Australian start.
Gath has earmarked a trip to Auckland next month with his new stable star and expects to tackle the $100,000 Anzac Cup on April 20 and $150,000 Rowe Cup a week later.
“I’d say it’s pobably more like likely than unlikely at this point,” said Gath.
“Racing right-handed was our main concern but Terry assures me he worked right-handed 95 percent of the time.”
Gath is no stranger to New Zealand, or the Rowe Cup, having won the 2002 edition at Alexandra Park with La Coocharacha and he tackled the race with the unplaced Andandon in 2004.
He also campaigned Carribean Blaster at the 2012 and 2013 New Zealand Cup Carnivals (Addington), Burnaholeinmypocket at the 2015 Harness Jewels (Ashburton) and Anvil’s Star at the 1999 Inter Dominions (Alexandra Park).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
