NZ harness legend eyes cross-code success during Cup week
Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon has designs on cross-code success at Christchurch’s New Zealand Cup Week in November, with the revered horseman purchasing another thoroughbred with the carnival in mind.
Purdon and his wife, Katrina, already had a leading prospect in Iron Hawk, who they bought off Inglis Digital last December for A$70,000, and the son of Written Tycoon went on to win two and finish runner-up in two of his four starts in autumn for Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson, including finishing second in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at his home track on Anzac Day.
Following Iron Hawk’s success, Purdon went back to the same well in May and identified dual Group 3 winner North England on Inglis Digital and purchased the then colt for A$45,000, which proved to be a clearance sale price after he was bought off the site three months before for A$200,000.
A A$280,000 yearling, North England was a precocious two-year-old for former trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, carrying part-owner China Horse Club’s colours to victory in the Group 3 Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill at just his second start, having placed on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate (1000m).
He then went on to run sixth in the Golden Slipper (1200m) as an autumn two-year-old before winning the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at his next start.
He only had the two starts as a three-year-old, finishing 10th in both the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) in spring and the A$3 million Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m) in January, before he was offered for sale a month later.
As with Iron Hawk, North England has joined Lance Robinson’s barn, and while the Riccarton trainer has only had the entire in his stable for a couple of weeks, he is already impressed.
“He arrived a fortnight ago and he has settled in well, he is a lovely horse,” Robinson said.
“We don’t know a lot about him, we are getting to know him a wee bit now. He is a cracking-looking horse, and we have been really happy with him so far. We are very lucky to have him.”
