"He [Auckland Reactor] will return to racing earlier than expected. He has made such good progress," Purdon said.
The 4yr-old, unbeaten in 11 starts and voted Harness Horse of the Year for 2008, has not raced since he won the Southern Supremacy Stakes Final at Invercargill on April 26.
Auckland Reactor was sidelined on the eve of the Harness Jewels in May when he developed a problem affecting the co-ordination of his hind legs.
"I could start him in the junior free-for-all on the first day of the Cup meeting and all going well the NZ Free-For-All," Purdon said.
He has scratched Ohoka Arizona from the New Brighton Cup free-for-all tonight.
"He was put in the race when his own race (a 4-5 win free-for-all) was canned. We felt the New Brighton Cup would be a bit tough on him fresh up. They could run 3.12," Purdon said.
Ohoka Arizona has not raced since finishing sixth to Auckland Reactor in the Sires' Stakes Final at Addington last November.
He fractured a pastern the following month.
Dave and Katie Carville, the owners Ohoka Arizona, are in the ownership of Ohoka Rebel, a $1.75 favourite for the New Brighton Cup, ahead of Special Ops ($4.50) and Zenad ($5.50).
Ohoka Rebel ended a 10-race winning streak when he was beaten a length by Special Ops in a 2600m handicap at Addington on August 29.
He was given no respite in the lead and Special Ops, who started from 20m, recorded 3.13.6, 0.6sec outside the NZ record set by Kate's First in 1999.
The race tonight is from the mobile gate.
Baileys Dream won in 3.11.7 last year.
Special Ops was having her first race for three months.
Chilli has been scratched from the New Brighton Cup.
"I am pleased with the way he has come up but I felt the race was a week too early for him after he worked on Tuesday," Nigel McGrath, his trainer, said.
Chilli won a work-out at Motukarara last Saturday.
Some Direction is attempting to win the Ordeal Cup for the second successive year.
The race last year is the most recent of her 24 wins.
The 11yr-old mare ran fifth fresh up from 20m handicap at Addington on August 29.
Some Direction is third favourite at $6.50 in fixed-dividend betting.
Moment Of Truth is favourite at $2.80 after a last-start third to Del's Hoof N It and Millburn Michael at Addington on August 29.
