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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John Thompson is quietly confident he can bring out the best in stakes winning galloper Purple Sector now he’s winning the battle with the gelding’s feet.

Trainer John Thompson (Pic: Steve Hart)

After being a Group 3 winner at three, Purple Sector re-emerged a year ago as an exciting miler/middle distance performer with a couple of dashing wins, including a Listed victory at Flemington, but a foot issue that presented after a gallant effort in the 2020 The Gong affected his autumn.

The six-year-old hasn’t raced since finishing near the tail in the Scone Cup seven months ago but Thompson said he sees no evidence of feet problems now.

“In the Gong he had equilox on his foot and it fell off midrace then his shoe came off and his foot came away,’’ Thompson said.

“There was a lot of credit in that run because of what happened in the race. He just needed time after that to get it right.

“If his feet aren’t good he won’t stretch out but when he’s good he’s a stakes horse. At the moment, touch wood, he seems to be good.”

Purple Sector, $8 with TAB on Thursday, has trialled three times and Thompson said his latest, a win over 1200m, was positive given he doesn’t trial in blinkers.

He said if the horse produces his best form and is in the finish of the ACY Securities Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday his summer preparation could turn into a short cameo.

“He needed a good spell for his feet to grow out, which they have done, we’ll see how he goes and possibly give him a little freshen up and attack in the autumn,’’ he said.

“He’s feeling well and trialled very good. His last trial was a good one, he’s pretty casual type of horse. He wears blinkers in a race so they will switch him on more.

“We’ve had a bad run of outside barriers at the moment of which he is another but we’ve got Hugh Bowman on and he’ll sort it out.”

Four-year-old Supremo is poised to bounce back after a luckless first-up run in the ATC Thanks John Williams Handicap (1400m).

Thompson said the gelding, who was well supported first-up, will press forward from another wide alley on Saturday and hopes Rachel King has more luck than Reece Jones did at Kensington two weeks ago when beaten 2.3 lengths.

“His first-up run was probably better than it looked, he had a tough run and just got tired,’’ he said.

“He has no luck with the draws but this preparation he will get over a bit of ground. He’s out of a Zabeel mare and has needed time to mature and strengthen up.

Purple Sector wins a trial at Randwick on December 7

“The plan would be to go forward and make his own luck and he should improve.”

And a firmer track is expected to aid Prince Of Arragon in the Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap (1600m) after he went down fighting on a heavy track in the Nowra Cup.

The gelding drops 4.5kg on that effort after the claim for Chris Williams.

“He ran well first-up in a short race then second-up he was very plain, he bounced back a bit last start with the big weight on a heavy track,’’ Thompson said.

“Back on a good surface hopefully we’ll see the best of him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting