Turn It Up All-Star stables latest freak
The sky seems to be the limit for the Mark-Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen stable’s latest pacing star Turn It Up.
The four-year old confirmed his freak status when he romped to a front-running win at just his ninth start in the Auckland Cup (3200m) on New Year’s Eve at Alexandra Park.
Purdon admitted after the race even he did not know what heights Turn It Up could hit as his career progressed. ‘‘This guy has got a lot of potential, and I’m not sure where it will end.’’
Purdon said the path to Auckland Cup glory started when Turn It Up ran second behind Cruz Bromac in the New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington in November.
That impressive effort in just his seventh race not only showed the horse was up to the top level, but it helped his trainers choose between making a final acceptance for the Inter Dominions or heading to the Auckland Cup.
‘‘When he ran second in the Free-For-All it really impressed me,’’ Purdon said. ‘‘From there, with the way Cruz Bromac went at the Inter Dominions, it sowed the seed. I always wanted to bring him up (to Auckland) because I always felt he was better this way around.’’
Turn It Up showed a rare chink in his seemingly impenetrable armour with a slightly slow start to the race.
Purdon said it was just a case of the horse not being ready when the strands were released.
‘‘He just wasn’t quite ready, but after that he was fine.’’
Once he was pacing, Turn It Up was caught three wide on the first bend and Purdon opted to press forward. When the fouryear-old hit the front with 2800m to run, the race was effectively over for his opposition.
Only two rival drivers came with mid-race moves during the race. Tony Herlihy sent Star Galleria forward with just over a lap to go and Blair Orange followed him around with Ashley Locaz. Those manoeuvres paid dividends as the pair fought on for the placings as Turn It Up reeled off fast closing sectionals of 54.3 and 26.1. Star Galleria just grabbed second placing over Ashley Locaz by a head at the finish. The surprise was when Dream About Me could not capitalise on a dream run trailing.
The star mare was unable to quicken and ran a battling sixth, beaten almost four lengths in her first defeat in nine races in Auckland. That performance was one of the lows on a mixed night for the All Stars camp.
Smooth Deal and Oscar Bonavena were beaten hot favourites early on before Ultimate Sniper won the New Zealand Sales Series 3YO Open Final with ease with Rasmussen in the sulky. She also drove Elle Mac to win the junior free-for-all in a record time.
NZ Harness News