NZ legend Mark Purdon to aim Dont Stop Dreaming at Group 1 Hunter Cup and Oscar Bonavena at Group 1 Southern Star

The biggest name in New Zealand has just added another dimension to Victoria’s feature harness carnival, with two stars being aimed at Group 1 features at Melton.

Mark Purdon's Dont Stop Dreaming is being aimed at the Hunter Cup. Picture: HRNZ

The biggest name in New Zealand has just added another dimension to Victoria’s feature harness carnival.

Hall of Famer Mark Purdon and his son, Nathan, have confirmed a surprise change of heart will see their two stable stars – Dont Stop Dreaming and Oscar Bonavena – chase the biggest races at Melton in coming weeks.

Dont Stop Dreaming will return for the iconic Group 1 Hunter Cup on February 1 and try to go one better than his tremendous second to Aussie champ Leap To Fame in last year’s race.

While the rejuvenated Oscar Bonavena will return for his second tilt at the Group 1 Great Southern Star on the same night.

Remarkably, it will be five years since he first contested Australia’s biggest trotting race, when he ran fourth to Tornado Valley in 2020.

It’s an astute move from Team Purdon, especially with Oscar Bonavena, given the absence of Australia’s two top trotters.

Ocar Bonavena is heading to the the Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton. Picture: HRNZ

Defending Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze is sidelined with a hoof issue, while champion Just Believe, who won the race two years ago, is also sidelined by injury.

“He deserves another chance over there,” Nathan Purdon said. “He’s certainly had his share of injury problems, too, but he’s been sounder than he is now.

“The plan is to look for a race at Alexandra Park (Auckland) before we go, but if that doesn’t work and we have to go through a lead-up race over there (Victoria), then so be it.”

Despite his injury history and the unique and testing structure of Great Southern Star, which consists of qualifying heats and the final on the same night, Purdon said it would suit Oscar Bonavena.

“Sprint racing really suits him these days and the two runs won’t bother him,” he said.

“The other big thing, obviously, is not having Just Believe to contend with.”

Following the win of Dont Stop Dreaming NZ last night, we caught up with Mark Purdon to talk about the Chariots of Fire contender.🔥#ClubMenangle@HRNSW_Harness@AllStarsRacing_pic.twitter.com/ksuMh13NOX

— Club Menangle (@ClubMenangle) February 24, 2024

Despite winning just three of his 15 starts since last year’s Hunter Cup, Purdon still believes five-year-old Dont Stop Dreaming is up with the best pacers in Australasia.

“He’s had no luck and also lots of hard racing and sometimes I think that’s gotten to him” he said.

“But he is a very good horse and these good horses have to go in the biggest races, that’s where the money is.

“He’ll follow the same travel schedule as Oscar (Bonavena) and then we’ll look to take them to Sydney.”

Dont Stop Dreaming will chase the $1 million Miracle Mile, while Oscar Bonavena has a Group 1 trotting mile to target at the same Menangle meeting on March 8.

Team Purdon’s Melbourne raid will add to the strongest Kiwi raid on the Melbourne features for many years.

Emerging Kiwi pacer Tact McLeod is already here and was beaten a whisker in last night’s (Saturday) Group 2 Bendigo Cup.

While top South Island trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety are keen to bring their last-start Group 1 Auckland Cup winner Republican Party across for the Hunter Cup and probably go on to the Miracle Mile.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as NZ legend Mark Purdon to aim Dont Stop Dreaming at Group 1 Hunter Cup and Oscar Bonavena at Group 1 Southern Star