End of an era for Purdons as Vessem wins Superstars

By Michael Guerin

Vessem’s victory in the Continental Event Hire Superstars at Addington on Friday night closes one of the most amazing chapters in New Zealand harness racing history.

The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained four-year-old made the most of a perfect trail behind Beach Ball and never went around a horse for driver Olivia Thornley to win the Group 2 a sizzling 1:55.5 mile rate for the 2600m mobile.

He held out a brave Wag Star and the favourite Pinseeker in one of the faster 2600m mobiles run at Addington for years, Veseem clocking 3:06.7 on the wet night for his 10th career victory.

It was also his last from his former home at the All Stars property at Rolleston, where he spent part of this week before moving to caretaker trainer Blair Orange’s property.

Because as of this week that property, where some of our greatest horses including the mighty Lazarus were prepared, is no longer a Purdon training facility.

With both Mark (Matamata) and Nathan (Pukekohe) now based in the north they have no official base in Canterbury, one of those sentences you almost need to read twice to believe.

The famous blue colours ruled harness racing for a decade from that base but Nathan says from now almost all is horses will be based in the north.

“Once this carnival is finished the horses who spell will then come north and we won’t have an actual stable down south,” he told HRNZ.

“Vessem is one horse who could stay down there as he might have a spell now and then come back up with Blair down there and be set for the early open class races in the second half of the season.

“We will obviously have horses going down there for the good meetings and at this stage they might stay with Blair.

“So we are no longer at the old property and Hayden and Amanda Cullen have moved in there.”

How long that lasts is uncertain as the Rolleston property has been purchased and could be handed over to developers as early as next year.

But Vessem could be the last Purdon-trained winner to come from there and Nathan says he will eventually end up in the north too, but maybe not in the deep end this season.

“We will give him his chance in those early season open class races and see if he is a Cup horse but maybe he won’t be taking on the absolute best this year, we might just ease him into it.”

While Vessem is good and maybe becoming very good, there is no doubting the elite level ability of Friday night’s other major pacing winner Marketplace.

The outstanding three-year-old had what looked a walk in the park winning his Garrards Sires’ Stakes Semi Final, strolling to the lead early and not even needing to concentrate to hold out his regular rival Got The Chocolates, who was brave after sitting parked.

But while he looked to be jogging Marketplace paced his last 400m in a lightning 26.2 seconds to prepare for the Sires’ Stakes Final next Friday.

“He was looking around but he can do that and he won pretty easily,” said driver Craig Ferguson.

Marketplace is a remarkably short $1.10 with the TAB bookies to add next Friday’s Group 1 to his already bulging trophy cabinet, with the third favourite in that market Bettors Anvil very good winning in slightly easier company in the last race.