Mark Purdon won two of the three NSW Derby heats, but still emerged from the qualifiers scratching his head.

That’s because his best three-year-old and the prepost NSW Derby favourite could only manage a well-beaten third in his heat behind NSW pacer Atomic Red, who improved out of sight and led throughout.

Purdon won the other two heats, firstly with the improving Motu Meteor and more significantly with Vincent in the third and final heat.

Ultimate Machete went into the heats a clear favourite for the final, but Vincent emerged clearly the horse to beat.

Purdon seemed at a loss with Ultimate Machete’s run and said he was “beaten a long way from home.”

The draw for the Derby is at noon (NZ time) tomorrow (Monday).

In Ultimate Machete’s defence, he did sit parked and the winner, Atomic Red, broke the track and race record for a three-year-old with a sizzling 1min54.4sec mile rate for the long 2400m trip.

It was a daring drive from Amanda Turnbull, who took the reins on Atomic Red for her father, Steve.

“I wasn’t surprised he did that, more pleased he showed the gate speed he did,” Amanda said.

“We’ve changed a few things to try and get him off the gate better and he did well tonight. I hope begins that well in the final.”

Just as he was in the Victoria Derby heat, Vincent was stunning winning his heat last night (Saturday).

The son of Art Major sat parked and looked win with plenty in the tank in a 1min55.5sec mile rate – just 1.1sec slower than the Ultimate Machete heat.

It underlined what a shame it was he copped a pucture at the start of the Victoria Derby and was retired from the race.

In the first heat, Purdon’s Motu Meteor turned the tables on Our Little General in a reversal of their quinella from the Victoria Derby two weeks ago.

Our Little General led, looked quite wayward at times, and simply couldn’t hold-off the speed of Motu Meteor – who sat parked – in a 26.3sec closing quarter. 

They went much slower in that heat with a 1min57.1sec mile rate.  

Purdon and co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen will now have to find a driver for Motu Meteor. Purdon is set to stick with Vincent and Rasmussen is regular driver of Ultimate Machete.

Amanda Turnbull also drove three Derby qualifiers in their heats – Atomic Red, Wardan Express and Conviction – but it will be a surprise if she doesn’t stick with the impressive Atomic Red.