Plenty of questions from Purcell before Flemington meeting

Brad Waters - Thursday October 5

Aaron Purcell must feel like quizmaster Eddie McGuire during his first week in charge of the suspended Ciaron Maher stable.

Advertisement
Aaron Purcell took over the team of the suspended Ciaron Maher this week. Photo: Warrnambool Standard

Purcell took over Maher's stable on Tuesday after the latter started a six-month suspension for his part in the controversy surrounding the ownership bona fides of Group I winner Azkadellia.

Purcell added Maher's "80-odd" string team to the 16 he has in work at his own Warrnambool base.

Purcell has spent the week asking questions attempting to learn as much as possible about his new team, which will send four runners to Flemington on Saturday.

"That's all I have done for the last few days. I've been going around with (assistant trainer) Dave Eustace and asking questions, 'why are they doing that?' and that sort of stuff," Purcell said.

"It's probably going to take me a week or two to get the handle of their work regime and take me a bit longer to remember their habits.

"Obviously, the good horses are easier to remember but the younger ones or the lightly-raced ones are going take a bit longer to get a handle on."

The weekend will be Purcell's first in charge of the Caulfield-based team but the trainer will spend a lot of time on the road between Melbourne and Warrnambool over the next six months.

Purcell said he would maintain his own established business, which includes the Blazer Stakes runner Written Era, with the help of "a great team" of a stable foreman and track riders.

But he knows time with his family will be at a premium.

"I'll probably spend the weekend and Monday and Tuesday at Caulfield and I'll probably go back to Warrnambool in the other half of the week and keep coming and going," Purcell said.

"It is going to suck a lot of my time out of my life. They (his wife and two children) are going to try and come to Melbourne with me and spend time there and I'll obviously spend as much time as I can with them at home.

"That's going to be the worst part about it."

Purcell will attempt to notch a Group II win on his first Saturday with his new team when Bons Away competes in the Group II Gilgai Stakes (1200m).

Purcell's maiden Saturday in charge of the big team will start with Lady Bithiah's run in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) but he said he doesn't have enough information to assess the youngster's chances.

"I don't know a lot but the two-year-old only came down from the breakers a couple of weeks ago so nobody knows a lot more than me anyway," Purcell said.

"I watched its trial and watched the horse gallop on Tuesday and had a good look at the horse and I probably know as much as most other people in the stable."

Lady Bithiah has eased from $8.50 to $10 in Sportsbet's market on Melbourne's first two-year-old race of the season.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sunlight’s Sister Clean Energy Retired
The most expensive yearling filly sold in Australia in 2023 when fetching $2.6million for Widden Stud at Inglis Easter, Clean Energy has been retired to stud.
Melbourne Cup Ciaron Maher Stable Also in the Hunt
Earlier this week we ran a story on the Chris Waller trained entries for this year’s Melbourne Cup and today we’re taking a look at the trainer with the next biggest number of contenders and that is Ciaron Maher with 13.
Vivid Sun Shines Bright At Sandown
Recording her second win in as many starts, 3yo The Autumn Sun filly Vivid Sun looked something special as she resumed from a spell at Sandown to trounce her rivals by more than two lengths on Wednesday, signalling a step up to black type races during the Spring.
NZB Filly of the Year Series Springs to Life with Gold Trail Stakes
One of the traditional signs that spring racing has arrived in New Zealand is the running of the first leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). The $150,000 race looks a little different this year in a temporary new home, but it will still give us that same first look at the latest crop of fillies vying for the coveted title.
G3 Tibbie Next for Tuileries
Lightly raced So You Think mare Tuileries has long promised to measure up to stakes class and will be given that opportunity next start after returning to top form to win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Debut Winner and Welcome Return
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance produced a debut winner at Moe on Thursday that started as a short priced favourite and on Saturday at Randwick we will see the return of his best performer to date.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 3
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
River (Banking) on Dalasan
There are any number of reasons a stallion can go radio silent in their third and fourth seasons at stud.
Grail Seeker Chasing Another G1
Top quality performer Grail Seeker will be heading in a new direction on Saturday when she attempts to add to her record at the highest level.
Alabama Lass Primed for G1 Moir
Tackling Group Ones on either side of the Tasman is nothing new for Ken and Bev Kelso, and they will do exactly that this weekend.