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...
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.
Hellbent Filly Wins Listed Bill Carter
The $160,000 Listed BRC Bill Carter Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday had a short priced favourite in Hellbent filly Sunrays and she gave punters no cause for concern when powering clear for a dominant victory.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Listed Chief De Beers Stakes To Manhood
Surprisingly contesting black type racing for the first time in his career, it was first time lucky for the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Manhood after the 6yo son of Headwater was strong to the line, leading throughout to win the Listed Chief De Beers Stakes (1110m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 24
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Brisbane Possible for Resurgent Velocious
Group One winner Velocious bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
NZ Oaks Winner Strikes Form in Australia for Yulong
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Stakes Potential for Miss Ole
Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk added an 11th winner to his tally when the Clinton McDonald trained filly Miss Ole scored a stylish win in quick time at Sandown on Saturday.