Auckland trainer Barry Purdon brought three horses south to contest the Gr.2 JLT Cambridge Futurity Stakes (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night and was duly rewarded, taking out the quinella in the age group feature.
Group One winner Jack’s Legend was sent forward off the gate by driver Scott Phelan before handing up the early lead to in-form stablemate On The Cards, who then dictated terms throughout.
The duo distanced their rivals in the home straight, with Jack’s legend able to take advantage of the passing lane and get up to win by three-quarters of a length over On The Cards.
Purdon was delighted with the performances of both horses and was pleased that Jack’s legend was able put into practice on race day what he has been showing in his work at home.
“I thought they both went really well, they went pretty hard early and still stuck on pretty good, both horses went great,” Purdon said.
“Jack’s Legend’s work had been great, it has been good before and he’s just been fractionally disappointing, but on Thursday night he was really good and on his game.
“I knew what to expect (from him), but I was just hoping it would all go to plan.”
Purdon was just as pleased with the performance of runner-up On The Cards and said the Bettor’s Delight gelding has gone from strength-to-strength in recent months.
“He’s a gutsy horse,” Purdon said. “He always gives you his best. He’s really picked up in the last six to eight weeks and has gone to another level from what he was.
“I am really thrilled about his prospects going forward.”
Purdon made his sixth appearance in the sulky this season when he reined home Mach Shard for fourth in the Futurity Stakes.
“It’s always nice to get out there and have a little bit of a go,” he said.
“He got home quite well and they really only went from the top of the straight, so he got home pretty good and I am just hoping he will carry on with it and go forward a bit more.
“His work has always been good, so I just expect a little bit more from him, so hopefully he can deliver that from now on.”
All three runners will back-up in the next few weeks, with Jack’s Legend likely to be set on a path towards the South Island in autumn.
“There’s the Founders Cup and Auckland Free-For-All (in March) first and then we may look at Christchurch with Jack’s Legend,” Purdon said. - Cambridge Raceway
