Gold Coast trainer Kelly Purdy is daring to dream she has a serious Cups contender following another commanding win from Rundle at Doomben.
Rundle made it three wins from his past five starts with an easy two length victory over Racing Heart in Saturday’s Path Development Open Handicap (2200m).
Purdy, a former jockey, has only been training for 12 months since quitting the saddle.
She surprised many people when she nominated Rundle for the Zipping Classic at Sandown last week before deciding to stay in Brisbane where the five-year-old was successful at Doomben.
Purdy admitted her decision to back Rundle up a week later was an afterthought ahead of plans to start him over 2400 metres at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.
“I wasn’t going to start him today but he was getting away from me so I had to run him,” she said.
“He put on four kilos between Thursday and today.
“If I didn’t, it would have been three weeks between races for him and he’d really have put on the weight by then.”
Rundle, who cost $45,000 as a yearling, took his record to six wins from 14 starts.
“I’m lucky to get a nice horse like him so early in my training career,” Purdy said.
“He’s been racing very well but he’s even better on wet tracks.”
Purdy said next year’s Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm during the winter carnival was the first of two long range goals.
“After he runs in two weeks I’ll probably put him away and get him ready for the Brisbane Cup,” she said.
“Then if all goes to plan I’ll take him away for the spring and hopefully get him into the Melbourne Cup.
“It’s a dream but hopefully it’ll come true.”
Winning jockey Damian Browne produced a daring ride on Rundle after taking off midway when the pace slackened.
“He relaxed so well and he’s got a terrific turn of foot,” Browne said.
“It was a good win considering he had to sprint twice.”
AAP TURF
