Zac Purton heads to Randwick on Saturday with two very live chances in the Doncaster and Sires Produce; two races that he has previously won.
Kermadec is hoping to become the eighth horse to win back to back Doncasters after claiming victory last year. Randwick is a happy hunting ground for Kermadec after also taking out the George Main last September.
Last start Kermadec finished second in the George Ryder and Zac said of the run, ‘I was very happy, he looked a winning chance at the 200 metres but Winx was too good that day’. Winx will be there again lining up next to Purton and Kermadec on Saturday as the raging hot favourite.
You get the feeling that Zac would love to turn the tables on Hugh Bowman after being edged out by him on Werther in the Hong Kong Derby last week to go along with the win by Winx in the George Ryder.
When it comes to Kermadec’s chances of going back to back Zac says, “I think he can. He pulled up having a big blow after his last run and he’ll be fitter this time and gets a slight swing in the weights against Winx. It’s always a great race and this year will be no different”. That weight swing is 1.5kg and could be just what is needed to get one over Bowman.
After having three 2nd places in Group Ones over the last few weeks aboard Victory Magic, Kermadec and Yankee Rose perhaps the later can give Purton that Group One win in the Sires Produce. After producing a sensational run first up in the Golden Slipper Zac said of Yankee Rose, ”Her run in the Slipper was great, with another 50 metres she would’ve won so the step up in distance plays right into her hands. If she brings the same form to this race she should be hard to beat”.
The step up to the 1400 metres should be ideal for Yankee Rose with Zac mentioning, “It looks as if the extra distance is what she’s looking for”.
And in regards to her amazing turn of foot and how good could she be, Purton explained, “She hit a flat spot when I asked her for an effort in the Slipper and it was really only the last 100m that she started to fly, stepping to 1400 will help her go through her gears easier. She is only small and it was a huge effort first up, my only concern is if she can reproduce that effort but David Vandyke the trainer knows her well and I’m sure he’s got her peaking again. It’s hard to say how good she will be but she’s definitely a Group 1 horse”.
With four Group One races on offer this Saturday you can be sure of one thing; the racing will be first class and the calibre of horse, jockey and trainer on show will be second to none.
