Nathan Purdon thinks Amazing Dream’s time in Australia has made her even better.
And that’s why he believes she is poised to beat King Of Swing again in Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup (2150m) at Bendigo.
Victory would be her 10th at Group 1 level.
Strangely, Amazing Dream has been vulnerable at times when leading in NZ, but Purdon said the tough Aussie style of racing would help her overcome that and has taken her to another level.
“I don’t think that’ll be a problem if she finds the front this week,” he said. “There’s no way we’ll be handing-up if she gets there and getting to the front if that’s Anthony’s (Butt) plan.
“It could come down to how much work she has to do to get there, but if it’s not too much, I think she’s the one to beat.
“Put it this way, as great as King Of Swing is, I’ll be stunned if he can come around then, sit parked and beat her this week … that’s how well she is.”
Amazing Dream’s gate speed was somewhat of a revelation during the Queensland winter and absolutely helped her win the big Group 1 double of The Rising Sun and Blacks A Fake.
Butt will be calling on it this week, especially with noted quick beginners like Torrid Saint (gate one) and Max Delight (two) drawn inside Amazing Dream (five).
What he’s got in his favor is both Torrid Saint and, more importantly Max Delight who looks the first leader, will likely be happy to take a sit on Amazing Dream – especially with Butt declaring he won’t be handing-up if he gets the front.
So, we could have a mouth-watering scenario of the two big guns alongside each other with a lap to run in the Victoria Cup – Amazing Dream in front and King Of Swing outside her.
Purdon is also growing in confidence about American Dealer’s prospects in the $200,000 Group 1 Victoria Derby (2650m).
“He’s building at the right time,” he said. “People query if he’s going as well as was in Queensland, but I think the depth is just better down here with the likes of Act Now and Major Moth,” he said.
“We’ve got the draw we wanted (gate two), but I doubt we’ll have enough speed to hold out Act Now from next door (three), but the half winkers will go on and Ants’ (Butt) first task is to get across the polemarker.
“If we could somehow hold them all out, then great. If not, then sitting on Act Now would be a good spot to be.
“He’s had the two runs now and he’ll go into this very, very close to his top.”
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