Purdon's One Regret

by Michael Guerin

Champion trainer Mark Purdon had only one regret after True Fantasy signed off her juvenile season with another group one at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Purdon co-trains and drove the filly to her searing win as she outstayed a very brave Remember Me in the $150,000 Dunstan Feeds Fillies Championship, with northern filly Lady Of The Light coming from well back for third.

It was the seventh win in 12 starts from True Fantasy and she has been placed in the other five, suggesting she is equal parts talented and honest.

But while winning group ones at Alexandra Park is second nature to Purdon he admits it would be more rewarding if owner Jean Feiss could have been there to enjoy it.

Victorian-based Feiss loves nothing more than coming to New Zealand to watch her impressive string of horses but, like many many others, she can’t get into New Zealand at the moment.
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“It is a real shame for Jean because she loves coming here to watch her horses,” said Purdon.

“And we really like having her around so we look forward to the day when that can happen again.

“Sadly it doesn’t look like Jean will be able to get here for the sales either which she has such a great eye for.”

True Fantasy will be back at the All Stars stables in Canterbury in three days and then return to Alexandra Park for the 3-year-old Harness Millions at what is shaping as a mega meeting on February 12.

Also aiming at that meeting will be Friday’s winner of the Breckon Farms Northern Stakes winner Chimichurri, who made up for a last-start mistake by leading most of the way.

The powerful son of Bettors Delight is still a long way from filling out and his lack of maturity shows in his gait but his motor is not in doubt.

Trainer Steve Telfer has a series of goals with Chimichurri, the most important eventually being the paddock.

“He will be back here for the Harness Millions on February 12 and to get him ready for that we will look at the Waikato Guineas two weeks before,” says Telfer.

“And while we have options for races like the Derby I also can’t wait to get a really good spell into him.

“But is so big and raw and the second half of the season is the major aim for him.”