Dour stayer Platinum Spirit goes close in Victorian debut with the Durden polish

Dour stayer Platinum Spirit looks to have found his niche in Victoria judging by his super first-up placing in a $25,000 race at Mornington yesterday.

Having his first start in Australia for Kathryn and Craig Durden, Platinum Spirit was just nosed out in a ding-donger finish over 2400 metres.

Settled third last by jockey Jason Maskiell, Platinum Spirit improved wide from the 650 metres to dispute the lead turning for home and he was in front one stride after the line.

That effort, in his first race since the Wellington Cup on January 29, augurs well for the future, says part-owner Neville McAlister, who races the five-year-old with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street.

“I told them to find the weakest races they could for his first couple of starts to build his confidence and it was very weak company yesterday.

“But the first and third horses, Fine Weather and Boyszee, were reasonably highly rated so to keep up with them was very encouraging. We’re on the right track and hopefully he’ll keep on improving.”

Neville McAlister … Platinum Spirit can realise his full potential with the Durdens in Victoria.McAlister says there are suitable races for Platinum Spirit regularly in Victoria, unlike in New Zealand where races were seldom carded further than 2200 metres and if you needed 3200 metres you had to contest races like the New Zealand and Wellington Cups.

“There’s a 3000 metre race every second week at Sandown. I think we’ll see him perform best in the $50,000 midweek races there but if he comes up to better company they have 2800 metre races at Flemington and Moonee Valley.”

Next start for Platinum Spirit will be on Easter Sunday, April 17, in a $35,000 rating 64 event at Stawell over 2700 metres.

“That distance will be even more his go. He’s only just getting warmed up over 2400.”

McAlister says he wasn’t surprised Platinum Spirit started his campaign so well.

“Craig and Kathryn are great people. They present their horses 100% fit, they don’t need to race them into form.”

The Durdens, who train from Moriac, 25 minutes out of Geelong, are best known for preparing now retired star jumper Wells, winner of three Grand National Steeplechases.

McAlister got to know Craig Durden very well when he rode his top jumper Nicobury in a number of headline events in Australia in 2005.

“Craig was one of the best jumps jockeys in the world. He met Kathryn when she was stable foreman for Colin Hayes.”

Platinum Spirit left New Zealand with two wins from 31 starts and $59,972 in earnings. His placing yesterday was worth A$4250. Should he win at Stawell, a country track 240km from Melbourne, he would bank A$19,250.