Mark Purdon added a Methven Cup to his list of wins when Ohoka Dallas ran out 3000m strongly yesterday.
The win probably assured Ohoka Dallas of a start in the $750,000 New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 9.
Flashing Red won the Methven Cup-New Zealand Cup double in 2006.
Ohoka Dallas, trained by Purdon and Grant Payne, is raced by Glenys and Phil Kennard, Hazel van Opzeeland and Neil Pilcher, all of Christchurch.
They bought the Falcon Seelster gelding from Katie and the late Dave Carville last November after Ohoka Dallas had won eight races from the stable of Tony Herlihy.
Ohoka Dallas has won twice in 14 starts for his new owners.
Ohoka Dallas is at $26 for the New Zealand Cup in fixed-dividend betting with the NZ TAB.
Monkey King has firmed in the betting to $2.60 favourite, ahead of Stunin Cullen ($5).
• JB Macguire, who was passed in for $19,000 at the 2009 Australasian Classic sale at Karaka, cleared maiden ranks at Addington on Saturday night when having his second start.
He was passed in by his Cambridge breeders, Ray and Diana Kennedy, who race the 3yr-old Bettor's Delight-Mystic Gold gelding with Chrissy Dalgety, wife of the trainer, Cran.
Hands Christian, who had his second win in three starts when successful on Saturday, was a $50,000 purchase by Mark Purdon at the 2009 sale.
Southwind Arden, a stablemate of Hands Christian, dead-heated for first with another 3yr-old filly, Miss Moonlite, on Saturday.
Southwind Arden, raced by her Tapanui breeder, Noreen Stiven, is a sister to Bettor's Strike, winner of the Victoria and Cranbourne Cups (dead-heat) last year.
Samuel James and Mabrook, 3yr-olds to clear maiden ranks at Methven, were premier yearling sale purchases.
Samuel James cost $65,000 and Mabrook, $60,000.
Mabrook is the third foal of Whanau, winner of the 2002 Sires' Stakes Final for 3yr-old fillies.
