Final race key as Purton looks to upset Prebble
Zac Purton could be the man to spring an upset on Jockey Challenge favourite Brett Prebble at Happy Valley tonight, in a meeting where the final race will prove critical to the overall point-score event.
Purton has flying front-runner Romantic City to bank on in the last and, at $18, is a decent chance to topple Prebble - who will take the reins of the brutal backmarker Turbo King in the final event as $2.50 favourite.
In what promises to be a low scoring night at the Valley, the Challenge is up for grabs to anyone who can snare a double and, of Prebble's long-priced rivals, the most likely candidate seems to be fellow Aussie Purton.
The January 19 meeting had to be decided on count-back between the pair after Romantic City claimed the last for Purton, and history may well repeat itself tonight.
Purton may need to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat at the first Valley meeting of the Lunar New Year, but, if he can get on the board early with Seize The Day in the first, he will have the Challenge by the ears.
Any points on Classic Energy or Perfect Joy would be a godsend, but Pegasus Supreme should not be underestimated with the blinkers remaining on and could prove the knockout runner in the fifth.
A strong treble of Golden Bauhinia and My Mate Adric crowned by Romantic City makes the $18 opening quote most enticing and, if Purton is within range coming to the final event, $18 about Romantic City will seem luxurious.
