Nathan Purdon getting ready for Young Guns 2YO series
Harness Racing New Zealand • January 14th, 2026 10:01 AM • 4 min read
It seems Nathan Purdon is getting serious about the up-coming 2YO features at Alexandra Park, and could have quite a presence by the time the $100,000 Group 1 Young Guns Finals come around in March.
With the opening round of heats now only 10 days away (January 23), Purdon had five two-year-olds qualify at Pukekohe on Tuesday and he has another (Delaney) heading to the trials soon.
Of the five, Coal Fire and Dontgetmestarted quinellaed one heat with Three Bags Full sixth, while Arisus won his heat with 2YO filly Lady Di finishing fifth.
Arisus' time was 2:03.4 for the mile while Coal Fire recorded 2:03.8.
Coal Fire ($85,000), Dontgetmestarted ($45,000) and Three Bags Full ($150,000) were all purchased at the 2025 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Coal Fire is the pick of them, according to Purdon. He is by Art Major out of five-race winner Emmber. Coal Fire is her first foal.
"He's the most natural at this stage," says Purdon, "he's done his work quite nicely."
He's also now had three trials as has Dontgetmestarted. He's by Sweet Lou out of Best Western while Three Bags Full is by Captaintreacherous out of Delight Kas. He's a half brother to Purdon's 4YO star Rubira, who has now won 11 races and over $400K.
Of the others to qualify the well-named Lady Di (Captaintreacherous - Princess Tiffany) was bred by Braeden and Caroline Whitelock and heat winner Arisus (Vincent - Take A Bet) was a $7000 purchase at the 2024 Weanling sales.
Another Vincent two-year-old, Delaney is owned by prolific and highly-regarded Australian owner Jean Feiss. A big fan of the stock of Vincent she bought him for $35,000.
"He'll head to the trials in a fortnight and should go straight into the second heat of the Young Guns," says Purdon.
That is set down for February 20 with the third and final round of Heats on March 6.
The $100,000 Group 1 Cardigan Bay Stakes for the Colts and Geldings and the $100,000 Group 1 for the fillies, the Delightful Lady Classic, will both be held on March 20.
"All going well we could have four in that boys Young Guns final," says Purdon.
Purdon currently has a team of 25 and from January 1 has been training on his own account with father Mark training a small but select team 100 or so kilometres south at Matamata.
"It's a nice number - you can give them all one-on-one attention."
He's keen to pick up "five or six" more from February's NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Karaka and Christchurch.
"If I could do that that will keep things ticking over nicely," he says.
