With the opening round of the heats just 10 days away (January 23), Purdon had five two-year-olds qualify at Pukekohe today (Tuesday) and another (Delaney) will be heading to the trials soon.
Of the five, Coal Fire and Dontgetmestarted Quinella won one heat with Three Bags Full in sixth, while Arisus won his heat with two-year-old filly Lady Di who finished fifth.
Arisus’ time was 2:03.4 for the mile, while Coal Fire recorded 2:03.8.
Coal Fire ($85,000), Dontgetmestarted ($45,000) and Three Bags Full ($150,000) were all purchased at the 2025 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale in Karaka.
According to Purdon, Coal Fire is the best choice. He is a descendant of Art Major out of five-race winner Ember. Coal Fire is her first foal.
“He’s the most natural at this stage,” says Purdon, “he’s done his job really well.”
He’s also had three trials now, just like Dontgetmestarted. It’s from Sweet Lou from Best Western, while Three Bags Full is from Captaintreacherous from Delight Kas. He is a half-brother to Purdon’s 4YO star Rubira, who has now won 11 races and more than $400,000.
Of the others to qualify, the well-regarded Lady Di (Captaintreacherous – Princess Tiffany) was bred by Braeden and Caroline Whitelock and heat winner Arisus (Vincent – Take A Bet) was a $7000 purchase at the 2024 Weanling sale.
Delaney, another two-year-old Vincent, is owned by prolific and highly regarded Australian owner Jean Feiss. A big fan of Vincent’s stock, she bought it for $35,000.
“He goes to the trials in a fortnight and should go straight through to the second heat of the Young Guns,” says Purdon.
That is set for February 20 with the third and final round of Heats on March 6.
The $100,000 Group 1 Cardigan Bay Stakes for the Colts and Geldings and the $100,000 Group 1 for the fillies, the Delightful Lady Classic, will both be held on March 20.
“If all goes well we could have four in the boys’ Young Guns finals,” Purdon said.
Purdon currently has a team of 25 people and will be training on his own account from January 1, with father Mark training a small but select team about 100 kilometers south at Matamata.
“It’s a good number, you can give them all one-on-one attention.”
He is keen to get “five or six more” at February’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales in Karaka and Christchurch.
“If I could do that, things would keep going well,” he says.
Through Dave Di Sommafor Harness News Desk
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