Harness Racing: Purdon says Vincent can still win Victoria Derby
EXCITING New Zealand colt Vincent will have to prove his budding superstar title when he lines up in Saturday night’s Group 1 Victoria Derby Final (2240m) at Melton after drawing poorly.
The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained three-year-old will have to overcome barrier eight, the inside gate on the second row, to take out the $200,000 feature.
Despite the horror draw, Vincent remains the $1.50 favourite with leading bookmaker Sportsbet, having drifted slightly after opening at $1.45.
The son of Art Major and Kept For Pleasure was the standout heat winner last weekend, blowing away his rivals by 12.3m when clocking 1:54.6 with a last half of 55 seconds even.
Purdon said prior to the race that Vincent had matured and seasoned to be ranked equal third in his stable full of stars. Naturally, the leading reinsman was delighted after the run.
“He’s got everything going for him. He’s a lovely horse. He’s got a great heart,” Purdon said.
“He was unlucky he got injured as a two-year-old otherwise he would have been here for the APG but that’s the way it went and it may have turned out a blessing for it.”
Rated the biggest threat to the favourite is Be Jacks Legend for Mark’s older brother Barry Purdon.
The youngster started from gate seven in his heat and clocked 1:55.0 when defeating Emain Macha by 2.2m, with Wrappers Delight rounding out the placings back in third.
Driven by Zac Butcher, the stable is expecting improvement out of the brown gelding as he continues to mature.
“This guy did it pretty tough over the last lap and he really stuck to his guns,” Butcher said.
“He was a January foal so he is still growing and developing and learning the way of the game.”
It was all Purdon affair in the heats, with the remaining qualifier also won by Mark when Moto Meteor sprinted quickly along the sprint lane to triumph in 1:57.3 with a last half of 54.8 seconds.
Moto Meteor will start from the outside of the back row this Saturday night and has subsequently been installed as a $17 shot.
Wrappers Delight and Our Little General, which finished third in their respective heats, have both firmed into contention for the decider after drawing barriers one and two.
With a clear run Our Little General looks to have a solid chance, boasting a best winning mile rate of 1:55.2 which was recorded two runs back at Melton.
The Emma Stuart-trained pacer is sure to strip fitter for his heat performance which was his first start since August 28, 2016.
The Group 1 Victoria Derby is race four at Melton this Saturday night and is set to be run and won at 7:30pm.
Barrier draw and odds
1. Wrappers Delight – Geoff Webster $8
2. Our Little General – Emma Stewart $9 with Sportsbet
3. The Defiant – Josh Aiken $67
4. Rocknroll Icon – Emma Stewart $34
5. Astride – John McCarthy $26
6. Wardan Express – Russell Jack $126
7. You Gotta Have Faith – Nicole Molander $101
———————Second Row———————
8. Vincent – Mark Purdon $1.50
9. Emain Macha – Greg Scholefield $15
10. Be Jacks Legend – Barry Purdon $7
11. Blue Moon Rising – Shane & Lauren Tritton $34
12. Motu Meteor – Mark Purdon $17