Anything Goes (NZ) Demolishes Stakes Field in All Stars Debut

Anything Goes (NZ) (American Ideal) delivered an immediate return for his new owners with his emphatic victory in the $40,000 Uncut Gems Geldings & Entries Classic (1980m) at Addington on Friday night.

In his first start for the All Stars Stable, the NZB Standardbred graduate raced away from a talented line up for his second stakes race success.

Anything Goes was purchased for $38,000 from the Studholme Bloodstock draft at the 2019 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch by Steve Dolan.

Dolan syndicated and trained the classy pacer, preparing him to win the $43,000 Group Two Coca-Cola Superstars Championship (2600m) recently.

The powerful performance prompted North American owners Marc Hanover, Gordon Banks and Kenneth Jacobs to purchase Anything Goes.

The brilliant five-year-old delivered his new owners Listed race success in his first start for them in incredible style, when powering away from a talented field to win by six lengths.

Co-trainer Nathan Purdon couldn’t help but be impressed by Anything Goes in his new stable debut.

“He feels like he’s a horse with a bit of bottom to him, and he’s shown it tonight,” Purdon told Harnesslink.

Driver Natalie Rasmussen speared Anything Goes to an early lead and from there the pair proved impossible to catch.

Anything Goes hasn’t been a noted leader in the past, but he certainly will be following his outstanding win.

“Leading hasn’t been in his arsenal to date but he’s added to it now,” Purdon said.”
“We felt he could (begin quickly) if he was woken up a bit.”

“He seems pretty versatile – it wouldn’t matter where he sat, he’s trackable enough to race round the field as well because he’s a very relaxed horse.

“So, it wouldn’t matter too much where he was.”

The Purdon stable have plenty of options in front of them with their exciting new stable addition.

A campaign at the Brisbane Winter Carnival is being considered for Anything Goes, while the Group One New Zealand Cup is a long-term goal for the pacer.

The Mark and Nathan Purdon stable produced three winners at the Addington meeting and all three are NZB Standardbred graduates.

Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) added to his outstanding record when brilliantly winning Friday night’s Sires Stakes heat.

The Group One winner headed an NZB Standardbred trifecta, with Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) second and Sinbad (NZ) (Vincent) third.

The Purdon stable also produced Bronson (NZ) (Vincent) for an impressive debut victory.

Photo: Harness Racing NZ