Inter Champion; New Zealand star I Can Doosit claimed the Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final for Mark Purdon
The victory of I Can Doosit in the Gr.1 $250,000 Dream With Me Stable Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final at Alexandra Park, Auckland could be considered lucky.
Lucky, in the best possible way.
The emerging New Zealand star stormed to victory to beat race favourite Let Me Thru whilst Stylish Monarch charged late to finish third in the 2700m feature.
I Can Doosit was driven by Mark Purdon who trains the gelding in partnership with brother-in-law Grant Payne and is raced by his breeders, Breckon Bloodstock.
Ken and Karen Breckon bred the Muscles Yankee gelding and had him earmarked for the yearling sale before fate stepped in and changed their lives.
Weeks before the sale, I Can Doosit injured himself and was pulled out of the sale prompting the Breckons' to alter their future plans with the young trotter.
Enter, Mark Purdon.
The star horseman inspected the colt and liked what he saw, the young trotter was then placed into the care of Purdon and Payne.
“He's a great trotter and he boasts a wonderful story, I'm lucky to have him.” Purdon declared.
I Can Doosit qualified for the final after finishing a solid fifth on the opening night of the series to Dr Hook before finishing third to Let Me Thru and Springbank Richard in the second round heat.
“We were a little behind the eight ball coming into the series but I knew he would keep improving throughout the series, I was happy with his efforts in his heats,”
“The barrier draw didn't excite me and I knew I would be relying on a little bit of luck but I always had the faith in his ability,”
“I was fairly confident during the running of the race; we landed a good position and the favourite was forced to work hard, it felt great as we drew close to the finishing line and this victory is very special.”
The victory was the fourth for Purdon in the trotting series whilst he took the winning drive aboard Mark Hanover in the 1991 Pacing Grand Final for the training partnership of Roy and Barry Purdon.
“I'm very pleased for Ken and Karen, it was great to see so many of their family here celebrating the victory,”
“They have been long time clients and they deserve this success, in particular here at their home track.”
Connections will now target the $80,000 New Zealand Trotting Championship at Addington on April 23 before returning to Alexandra Park for the Gr.1 $250,000 Rowe Cup on May 6.
Just for the record, I Can Doosit goes by the stable name of 'Lucky'.
