Bruno Cannatelli
Aaron Purcell is set to finish up as caretaker of Ciaron Maher's stable on Monday and is hoping to leave Caulfield on Saturday on a high and with a third Group One title to his name, as Aloisia lines up in Saturday's Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.
It has been a very successful six-month period for Purcell, who has 'exceeded expectations' he set for himself before taking over Maher's operation at Caulfield on October 2.
Since then he has won twice at the elite level, with Aloisia in the Thousand Guineas and Merchant Navy in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, along with another four Stakes races and a total of 57 winners.
"Aloisia was my first Group One runner [only two weeks into the role], she may be my last for at least a little while so it would be a great way to finish off," Purcell said.
"She galloped on Tuesday morning and Mark Zahra went up to Sydney for it, and he was rapt with her and fitness-wise she's primed.
"[Barrier] 14 wasn't the number I wanted to see, but she's a horse who likes to race amongst horses competitively so there are options as to where we end up, we'll have to let Mark [Zahra] work that out."
While Purcell's immediate future is to head back home to Port Fairy and train full time at Warrnambool, we may see him return to Caulfield at some stage.
"I had no real plans when I started in this role, I just wanted to enjoy the experience at Caulfield," he said.
"But now I've put in for a barn at Caulfield, there are a few people keen to do the same so I'm not sure whether I'll get one anytime soon but my main focus will always be Warrnambool." -racing.com