By Michael Guerin
Champion trainer Barry Purdon believes Sky Major can bounce back in tomorrow’s $250,000 NZ Free-For-All — and the bookies agree.
The dramatic failure of the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday has drawn the ace in tomorrow’s group one sprint at Addington, giving him options as he looks for his first win of the season.
Sky Major was the first horse beaten in the Cup on Tuesday, stopping at the 600m after moving around to secure the one-one at the bell.
But he was found to have a flat tyre, suffered at the 1200m mark, after the race and Purdon simply wants to turn the page on the run. “Zac (Butcher) said the tyre really affected him,” said Purdon.
“That was why he lost contact with Smolda at the 600m but when you watch the replay he was only beaten 10 lengths, so he didn’t stop trying, even though you have no hope over 3200m with a flat tyre.”
Purdon says Sky Major has recovered well from the run and he sees no reason he can’t be at his peak for tomorrow.
“He ate up well after the race and being a stallion you would think he would bounce back pretty quick.”
Sky Major has high gate speed, at least as good as any of his front line rivals and is a four-time group one winner over sprint trips, three in the Jewels and the Chariots Of Fire in Sydney last season.
That is why the TAB have opened him the $4 second favourite, with Cup winner Arden Rooney at $6 to complete the double from barrier eight.
Smolda seems incredibly short at $2.80 from the outside of the front line, where he looks set to cover more ground than his rivals.
The tactics of the race will be crucial because if Sky Major can stay in front he could have Messini on his back, giving the little speedster the ideal trail.
Dominion favourite Stent has also drawn wide in the $250,000 trot tomorrow, one of the few major races in Australasia he has yet to win. He opened $1.90 inside Master Lavros at $5.50.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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