Dont Stop Believing NZ Photo by HRNZ
CHAMPION trainer Mark Purdon is still hopeful of adding to New Zealand's strong and proud Miracle Mile record.
Kiwis raiders have won 15 of the 56 Miracle Miles, with Purdon and his older brother, Barry, training seven of those.
Only the host state, NSW, has produced more winners of Australasia's premier speed test, with 18.
The pandemic halted the influx of Kiwi raiders, but it's fitting Mark and Barry Purdon stamp the "return of the Kiwis" with a quarter of the field between them at Menangle on Saturday night.
Mark co-trains emerging young star Dont Stop Dreaming with his son, Nathan. Mark will also do the driving.
Barry also co-trains these days with Scott Phelan, and their hopes rest with surprise packet Sooner The Bettor.
Sooner The Bettor booked his Miracle Mile spot when he made the most of a good draw and lovely run to finish second in last Saturday night's Group 1 Chariots Of Fire, while Don't Stop Dreaming was beaten into sixth spot as a $1.80 favourite in that race and needed the "wildcard" to get a run this week.
Despite Sooner The Bettor drawing better (he will start from barrier four), Dont Stop Dreaming (barrier six) is still considered by far the better chance.
That's because it was only five weeks ago when he ran a slashing second to Australia's pin-up pacer Leap To Fame in the Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton.
So, it was a shock when he only beat four runners home last Saturday.
"I'm just forgetting about the run, to be honest," Mark Purdon said. "I expected more from him. The race wasn't run to suit, but he still didn't run to his best."
"I haven't been able to fault him since. We took blood from him to be safe, but he seems bright, and his work has been terrific."
Purdon admits the wide draw is a hurdle but quickly added he "hasn't given up hope" of winning on Saturday night.
"No, definitely not. But we're going to need everything to fall into place, especially from the draw," he said.
"We've got a horse who is good enough, and I think it helps to have Leap To Fame and even Frankie Ferocious drawn outside us."
"We've got the chance to drive him cold and use his speed, but that means we're in the hands of others to set a fast pace, so we've got a chance to finish it off strongly and hopefully be right in the finish."
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
