Purdon goes two from two in Young Guns heats

By Michael Guerin

That is one way to the sell yearlings.

Maybe the best way to sell them as Nathan Purdon won both Young Guns heats at Alexandra Park on Friday night just days after purchasing six yearlings at the sales.

First up it was Coal Fire who remained unbeaten in the heat for the boys holding off smart debutante Layton David with a 57.7 second last 800m from in front.

Then it was filly Lady Di who went one better than when she was second on debut, after sitting parked, as she lead throughout in the hands of Nathan’s father Mark.

Lady Di is daughter of Purdon’s former age group star Princess Tiffany, who also left Queen Lizzy to win earlier in the night for a rare Alexandra Park pacing broodmare double.

But the night belonged to Nathan Purdon and was the perfect advertisement at a pivotal time in his career.

He has, of course, started training solo again as his father Mark spends more time away from the business and Nathan admits that presented its challenges during sales week.

“People know Dad won’t be around the stable as much so I didn’t have that advantage this sales week even though he was there looking at horses with us and we decided on which yearlings to buy together.

“But we ended up with six yearlings and we really like them.

“We are open to taking on new owners to be part of them and as people have been able to see over the last month we pride ourselves on educating our babies well.

“Dad has always been a great juvenile trainer and I’d like to think that has rubbed off on me.

“Both the horses who won tonight are undoubtedly going to go on with the job and we have a good number of two-year-olds who are all racing well so we are very proud of how we have started out this next phase of our career.

“So if people want to know more about what we bought they can give me a call.”

Earlier in the night Sooner The Bettor continued his resurgence with another effortless mile win.

Harrison Orange blasted the wonderful sprinter straight to the lead and dictated the race, a 56.8 second last 800m seeing him sky away from Better Knuckle Up and Rubira, with the most remarkable thing about the win being Sooner The Bettor getting out to $3.

Another trainer who was busy at the sales who also visited the winner’s circle on Friday night was Matty White, who trained and drove Iron Mike Tyson to an all the way win.

The three-year-old is one of over a dozen horses in White’s care owned by top West Australian trainer Greg and Skye Bond.

“We got five for Team Bond this week and six last year and we already have racehorses for them like this fella,” says White.

“A lot of them will end up over there in Perth, a couple of the older ones have already gone, but he will tell us when he wants any of these sent over.

We also bought a lovely Stay Hungry colt from Breckon Farms for Scott Whitton from Tumby Park so it was a good week.”