Katrina Purdon has been fortunate enough to have nice horsepower for nearly four decades. And her winning run isn’t over yet.
Katrina grew up in Cambridge and got her first pony when she was four.
“It was a big pony, so you had to stay because it was too far to fall off (laughter). I did pony club, cross country and show jumping, then trotting took over,” she said.
She became involved in harness racing at a young age. Her first race was a non-Tote Lady Drivers Race in June 1980 under her maiden name Katrina Cole when she drove Eagles three trained by her father Raymond to finish second.
“Dad did the gallops down at Matamata (but) he pottered around with a few trotters and trained Eagles Three. Grant Sharpe raced her with a few of the boys and Grant’s had a few horses with us over the years.”
In the early days, Katrina worked in Ron Robertson’s stables.
“When Barry and I got married we moved to a house on Noel Gibson’s property and I worked there.”
They then moved to Clevedon where they built the house they lived in for forty years.
Katrina and Barry organized many young harness aspirants on the property – Cran Dalgety, Tony Barron, Chris Garlick, Todd McFarlane, Bob Butt, John Dunn, Brent Mangos, Brent Lilley and Derek Balle and others, stayed on the farm whilst they learned the trade.
As owner Katrina is closing in on 450 race day wins and 26 of those in New Zealand have been at group one level, 20 group two, 8 group three and 4 at listed level.
Her first winner My Eliza, at Claudelands in April 1986, was trained by Roy and Barry and driven by Derek Balle.
Her first feature winner was Montana Vance in the Group Three Needham Healthy Juvenile Stakes at Cambridge. The gelding went on to win the stakes of the New Zealand Sires Two-year-old final to give Katrina her first Group One victory.
She raced Montana Vance with John Hart, David Sixton and John Ede.
“It was a very good group of owners and we had a lot of fun.”
To date, Holmes DG has been the biggest gainer from Katrina. He won thirty-two races and earned $1,943,029.
“He was a great horse. When he won a big race in Sydney, Terry Henderson (owner) was abroad walking and couldn’t watch the race live. When he was able to get coverage he had all these messages on his phone (laughing).”
In addition to winning major races such as the Auckland Cup, the New Zealand FFA, the New Zealand Derby and the Northern Derby in his home country, Holmes DG had a handful of major victories in Australia, including the Treuer Memorial, two Miracle Miles, the Chariots of Fire, the Victoria Cup, the NSW Pacing Pacing Derby Derby and the Victoria Derby.
The Southland-bred gelding was raced by the second five syndicate consisting of Henderson, John Hart, John Ede, David Sixton and Katrina.
“I did a big running event with Terry and his son Ben. We ran across the Sahara Desert in 2001. It’s the toughest foot race on earth and you’re self-sufficient for a week. We did it in six days. Every day was a challenge.
Henderson has had a host of good horses in both codes over the years. He raced the $1.8 million earner Chokin and the 1995 Melbourne Cup winner Doriemus.
Katrina had a share in Sky Major, another very good horse. He won nineteen races and earned $825,538. His wins include the two, three and four year old Emeralds and the New Zealand Messenger. In Australia he won a chariot of fire.
“He was a lovely colt who did a great job and little maxim was another partnership horse. They were great friends and raced against each other. When they went to Australia they were in heat for the breeders’ crown. It was the first time they weren’t racing in the same race.
Katrina also had a part in Mach Shard with Charme Nausbaum and Tracey Whittaker.
During his 117 start career, Mach Shard won the Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes as a two-year-old and revitalized his career when winning the Noel Taylor Miles/New Zealand Messenger Double as a nine-year-old.
“He was a fantastic horse who did an excellent job and now he has a wonderful retirement.”
Other good winners for Purdon were Nippon Home (13), Surprise Package (13), Cheip de Dame (11) and the Cavalier (9).
Outside this country, Katrina has had great success in Australia with Holmes DG winning the 1998 G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Victoria Cup, surprise package the 1997 G1 Ag Hunter Cup, Mach Shard the G1 Ainsworth FFA, Sky Major the 2015 G1 Chariots of Fire and Cheer the Lady the Lady the 2012 Breeders Crown Two-year-old Fillies Long Distance.
Meant to Be is Katrina’s newest star. She races the young trotter with the Clear View Racing No 6 Syndicate and he has won nine of his 12 starts – four at Group One level. One of his main targets next month is the Ascent Slot Race on Show Day during Cup Week in Christchurch.
“He’s a nice big trotter. The final race is going to be a fantastic race, isn’t it. It’s good to have the Aussies coming over and with the World Driver Championship Races, the whole week is just going to be fantastic.”
Away from racing Katrina still enjoys walking.
“It’s good to get away with the girls. We try to take a good walk once a year, either to the west coast or down south. I love it.”
Katrina has also been involved in the fashion industry over the years, modeling for well-known Auckland designer Petrena Miller who was born in Southland. “I was a model for her for a few years.”
PETRENA’s late father Murray raced Pacers with Ryal Bush trainer Hamish Hunter and her mother Onawe successfully raced gallopers.
Barry and Katrina are also enjoying their beach retreat.
“Barry’s had quite a bit of hip problems but he’s fine now. We have a beach place in Raglan and we love going there.”
She doesn’t spend much time in the stables these days.
“I’m there for part of the day. I do all the bookwork for the company, but I don’t work on the ground now. I did that for years, so I play golf and tennis now.”
She has just returned from a polo tournament in Zambia, where New Zealand played South Africa and Zambia.
“Our neighbor Joe’s son played in the tournament. Four boys went from all over New Zealand, one of the Geddes boys (from the Canterbury Harness Racing Family) went. It was a great experience. We were organized and stayed in beautiful Sugar Cane farms. The farm we stayed on had its own safari, so saw Victoria Fall.”
She and Barry also recently traveled to the UK, where they attended Royal Ascot with Richard and Sheena Cole.
“The boat parties are incredible. They just go on to KMS and KMS. It’s another level. Just fantastic.”
Terry Henderson’s Galloper Docklands won the G1 Queen Anne Stakes while they were there, making the day even more exciting.
“It was incredible. I supported it and got the Quinella too.”
Katrina and Barry along with Dean Shannon also race a galloper named Yamato Satona who is trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. The trio purchased the Colt for $250,000 at the Karaka Yearling sale.
With intended to be set for a big spring, earlier the punters to race in the New Zealand Cup and Yamato Satona nominated for the 2000 Guineas, there is likely to be less time for golf or tennis for Katrina Purdon.
Through Bruce Stewartfor HarnessLink
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