Purvis chasing back-to-back Westport Cup wins
Matt Markham - Raceform • December 23rd, 2025 3:05 PM
Matt Purvis doesn’t usually need too much encouragement to pack up the float and head to the West Coast each Christmas, but with another strong chance in this year’s Westport Cup, he has a little more pep in his step than usual.
A Coast regular for much of the past seven years he’s been training, Purvis has enjoyed good success on his annual sojourns over the hills with 14 winners coming from Westport’s Patterson Park alone – not a bad strike rate given they race there only three times a year.
He was victorious in last year’s Westport Cup too with Piccadilly Pete and will be back to defend the crown with Smoke On The Water in 2025. And the big pacer with the big motor should appreciate a significant drop back in grade, because it’s been a tough few months.
His high rating landed him into many of the key IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup lead-up races early in the spring, taking on the likes of Republican Party and Merlin, so Boxing Day’s assignment in the lower end of the Country Cups grade should be a great opportunity.
“He hasn’t really gone a bad race, he’s just been in great company,” Purvis told RaceForm. “His third in the Junior Free-For-All on Cup Day probably is an indication of how he’s actually going at the moment.
“Stepping back in grade will help and he enjoys the grass-track racing. Because it’s not a full field and there won’t be quite as many to get around, I think he’s well enough placed too.”
A 35-metre handicap, the lone back marker, won’t make life easy, but the big son of Art Major is a quick beginner and should eat through his handicap pretty quickly.
He meets an even line-up of rivals for the $25,000 feature of Boxing Day harness racing with some other noted Coast and grass-track performers also lining up to make their presence felt.
Ted’s Legacy has been racing in fine fettle of late while Homebush Lad is no stranger to a Coast win either and Hacksaw Ridge has strong grass-track credentials.
Of real interest will be the arrival of leading stable Stonewall Stud, who are taking a strong team across and making their debut in Westport. Their Cup runner is Semba, who showed his class with a big win at Orari earlier this month.
Outside of the Westport Cup, Purvis will take four other runners across to the meeting including the very much in-form Flying Bird. She’s been working her way up through the grades over the past couple of months with some strong efforts, including a victory at Addington earlier this month.
“She’s going great, we’re rapt with the way she’s been racing,” Purvis said. “We did have her nominated for the Cup originally, but felt she’d be better placed down in grade. She’s a good mobile horse who is as tough as they come and will just keep trucking.”
Do You Wanna Dance brings winning form at her last start too and looks a big chance of winning again during the circuit while Ultimatum, Blackjack and Bonnie Bagrie also hold strong each-way hopes for the stable.
The circuit sees two days of racing at Westport on Boxing Day and then again on the 28th before heading to Reefton on December 30.
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