Having missed out on a berth in The Ingham, Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins) will chase a consolation prize at Randwick as he bids to end a two-year absence from the winner’s stall.
The gelding was first emergency for last weekend’s A$2 million race but with all 20 acceptors lining up, trainer John Thompson was forced to go to Plan B and divert to Saturday’s December Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
“I put the mock on myself because I said to the owners, ‘there’s twenty runners so there will be a scratching for sure, don’t worry’. But yep, no scratchings,” Thompson said.
“Everyone wants to have a throw at the stumps for that money.”
Purple Sector has been racing competitively this campaign, nabbed late by Old Flame (Invincible Spirit) first-up in August then finishing a creditable second to subsequent Epsom Handicap dead-heater Top Ranked (Dark Angel) in Group Three grade.
He was only beaten 2-1/2 lengths when midfield to Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) in The Gong (1600m) and if he can adjust to a slight distance drop on Saturday, Thompson is optimistic Purple Sector is going well enough to land his first win since the Listed Cup Day Plate at Flemington in November 2020.
“He seems happy. He has been going to the beach each week and he loves that,” he said.
“Once he’s fit you just have to keep him happy and ticking over.
“He ran well at Kembla the other day and he will prefer getting back to Randwick, he goes best there.”
