Purvis looking for top honours at Addington

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Woodend Beach trainer Matt Purvis is looking forward to heading to Addington Raceway on Sunday where he will have a quintet of runners.

He holds a strong hand in the Vincent At Alabar & Nevele R Mobile Pace (1980m) with Honour Before Glory, Moody River, and Belle’s Boy.

Honour Before Glory heads into Sunday off the back of two placings and Purvis said she will be able to utilise her high gate speed after drawing barrier four.

“She is racing super at the moment,” Purvis said. “She has found gate speed which has been a great asset to her and she has been able to get herself into a handy spot, which she has been able to capitalise on and pick up a decent cheque every week.

“I am picking it will be the same sort of tactics again this week.”

Moody River broke through for his maiden win at Addington last Sunday after a couple of placings and Purvis sees no reason why he can’t put in a similar performance this weekend.

“He is really starting to thrive off being driven with a sit and he is starting to figure out the racing game,” Purvis said.

“His first couple of starts he pulled hard and that dictated how he was driven, but now he is starting to figure that he can relax and he is starting to finish off his races a lot better.”

While Belle’s Boy has the least flattering formline of his three runners, Purvis is expecting the five-year-old gelding to be featuring in the finish on Sunday in the hands of John Dunn.

“It was my fault last time,” Purvis admitted. “He had two trials where he ripped home well and I raced him the week after when I should have waited.

“He has had a bit of a freshen-up in his work and he is really starting to bounce. I am expecting a very bold showing from him.”

Later on the card Purvis will line-up Eloel and Kaka Point Galanty in the Captain Crunch At Nevele R Stud Pace (2000m).

“Eloel ran a nice fourth the other day,” Purvis said. “Like Moody River, she is still working out the racing game. She can still pull a fraction, but she went well the other day.

“She steps good 99 percent of the time, so she should go close.

“Kaka Point Galanty had a wee gallop up the home straight running home in 56 the first start he had. He has had a bit of a freshen-up and his work has been good, so I can’t see him going a bad race.”