What All Stars offer before sabbatical

With the champion All Stars training juggernaut of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen going on a training sabbatical after tonight’s Alexandra Park meeting, here is how their top five winning chances of a fitting farewell rate.

1. Beyond Words (R3, No 7): Beat Auckland Cup contender Amazing Dream last start and drops miles in grade. Only reason the bookies gave $1.35 was because of her draw but that won’t matter. Multi maker.

2. Bettor Twist (R5, No 4): May have to sit parked to win but did against an almost identical field last start and that was dragging a flat tyre.

3. Spankem (R9, No 4): If Spankem can step to the lead, it is hard to see much pressure and that could lead to a 3:58-4:00 time for the 3200m, which would cut him perfectly. Stable has huge back-up in Amazing Dream (standing-start experience a query) and Ashley Locaz, who has a tricky second-line draw.

4. Shan Noble (R7, No 9): Huge run to sit parked last start, going down late to the swopping American

Dealer. His chances may be determined by whether he gets pushed back on the markers but can still win. Other chances probably rate Pace N Pride, First Class and Aladdin in that order.

5. Riveered (R2, No 6): Alex Park form doesn’t look that sharp but was against the best three-year-olds two starts ago then a smart one in Taupo last start. Drops back a long way in grade tonight and while he hardly the smoothest pacer in the world, his $4 opening quote is fair at this level.