Mare’s magic win

Tim O’Connor (HRV)

The tears flowed for Nathan Purdon on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park, after his speedy mare Spellbound finally broke through for Group 1 glory during a sad period for the family.
Purdon’s grandfather, the legendary Kiwi horseman Roy, passed away during the week and he was front of mind after the five-year-old blitzed her rivals in the Alabar Bloodstock Ladyship Cup.
Driver Stuart McDonald led from start to finish aboard Spellbound, who speared away from her rivals in the straight to win by more than 11m.
The victory was the first elite level success for the daughter of Art Major, who was the first winner Purdon trained following his full-time move from New Zealand to Victoria about a year ago.
“This mare’s been special to me and she was the first winner we had when we got over here,” Purdon said.
“And to have granddad looking down on us tonight was very special.
“He was the best. He was a legendary trainer, but he was a better grandad to me, a great mentor and just a champion person.”
Spellbound, who has been placed five times in Group 1 events, took her record to 14 wins from 45 career starts with Saturday night’s triumph and also secured a spot in the $200,000 Ladyship Mile to be run at Tabcorp Park Menangle on February 26.
A short time later, Purdon’s emerging filly Amore Vita showed she might be something special with a gutsy display in the Garrard’s Horse and Hound Gold Chalice.
The reigning Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Final winner hadn’t raced since that Group 1 victory on New Year’s Eve and had to dig deep to run down the flying Just Hope (Russell Jack/David Moran), who led for much the 2240m journey.
And dig deep she did, clawing back the front-runner away from the pegs in closing quarters of 27.0sec and 27.2sec to win by 2.2m.
“Six-horse fields, they can be tricky. The lead time was pretty slow and we were a fair way off. I knew as soon as I came out David would start running, which is what he did. He drove the perfect race, but the filly was just a little bit too strong,” driver Chris Alford said.
“I don’t know if that’s her go sitting parked like that, but following any speed she’ll run anything. It’d be great to sit on a good speed and save her for halfway up the straight and she’d explode. First up that was a great run.”

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