Phelan looking to a higher power with headache trotter
Garrick Knight - Raceform • February 5th, 2026 11:39 AM • 4 min read
It’s not often a horse will get the better of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, and the formidable partnership are determined to not let that happen with Higher Power.
The former Group One-placed trotter returns to his home track, Alexandra Park, on Friday night looking to recapture his best form after galloping in his four most recent runs.
“It’s not ideal, that’s for sure,” was Phelan’s succinct assessment of the situation.
Higher Power was sent to the recent Hawera meeting but galloped both days when leading – including on the second day when he was well clear of the field halfway down the straight.
“We’re not quite sure what’s caused it – perhaps it is a little bit of a loss of confidence. He might have had an excuse on one of them, but he certainly had no excuse in that last race. It left me swearing under my breath.”
Since returning home, Higher Power has returned to the Pukekohe workouts and behaved like a perfect angel.
“He never looked like doing anything wrong and we can only gauge off that run, and his work at home, which has been solid as.”
This week he is the class horse of the field in the $15,000 ATC Supports Team Teal Handicap Trot for junior drivers. Harrison Orange jumps in the cart for his bosses, replacing another stable employee, Crystal Hackett, who drove him both days at Hawera but is committed to a horse from her parents’ stable this week.
“I think if he gets around in one piece, he’ll be hard to beat,” surmised Phelan. “In a year’s time he should be nearing the top grade – he’s certainly got the ability to – it’s just a matter of getting his head right.”
The stable has three others in on the small seven-race card, including last start winner Chanel Noire. In her first start for more than 10 months, she reeled in the leader stylishly in the shadows of the post.
“I thought the win was a lot better than it looked,” said Phelan. “It was a pretty good effort given how long she had off. She’s got plenty of speed and we expect her to go on with it.”
She’ll likely start close to favourite in a competitive affair after drawing reasonably well at barrier three for driver Zachary Butcher.
In the night’s last race, Purdon and Phelan roll out two juvenile fillies on debut in the $17,000 Gallagher Insurance Young Guns 2YOF Heat 1.
Phelan will drive As One Wishes, a daughter of Bettor’s Wish that has won both of her public appearances, though there was some mild doubt around her starting at the time of writing due to a minor health issue.
(NB: Since publication, As One Wishes has been scratched from the race)
Stablemate Ann Penny, by Bettor’s Delight, is yet to win in three public appearances but Phelan says there isn’t a lot between the pair.
“They’re pretty even, actually. Ann Penny has always been a little bit behind but kept on improving with each trial, which is typical of the Bettor’s Delights.”
Butcher will drive Ann Penny, who has the better of the barriers in gate two.
Bookies opened As One Wishes as the $2.90 favourite on Tuesday, narrowly ahead of the Nathan Purdon-trained Lady Di.
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