Spankem strong chance in Taylor Mile
MIRACLE Mile winner Spankem is set for a group 1 repeat in the Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park.
Drawing barrier 2 has set the stage for the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussentrained 4yrold to repeat his frontrunning win in Australasia’s biggest mile race in tonight’s $100,000 feature.
Spankem’s blazing gate speed has him as the logical leader in the race, and Purdon thinks that is exactly where the horse will end up.
‘‘Looking at the race on paper, you would say Spankem would lead for the mile,’’ the trainer said.
Turn It Up will attempt to continue his incredible season in tonight’s 1609m feature.
Drawing barrier 3 could mean Turn It Up, who has his own share of gate speed, could land outside Spankem.
‘‘Turn It Up could possibly be sitting outside him the whole way.
‘‘So, it is going to come down to who is the best on the night.’’
Turn It Up will go into the Taylor Mile in good order after suffering a hoof problem on his journey from Rolleston to Auckland.
‘‘He pulled a shoe on the way up; we had the farrier attend to him the very next day.
‘‘Our travelling foreman, Poi [Bowden], was a little bit concerned that he may have run a nail into the foot.
‘‘But the farrier dressed the foot and he didn’t have any concerns, and Poi was very happy with how he trained on Wednesday.’’
Both Turn It Up and Spankem come in to tonight’s race after roughing it in testing conditions in the Easter Cup.
Though Spankem was well beaten by his winning stablemate, Purdon was still very pleased with the horse’s effort.
‘‘I was very happy with him, the 20m handicap and the conditions.
‘‘Having to work around the whole field in those conditions, he had to get tired.’’
Miracle Mile third-placegetter, Chase Auckland, gives the PurdonRasmussen stable a powerful threepronged attack on tonight’s race.
Starting from the outside of the front line in barrier 7 means the talented 4yrold has been relegated to the stable’s thirdstringer.
‘‘You would probably favour the other two with the racing they have had under their belt.
‘‘Nevertheless, he is still a nice horse on his day.’’
The winning chances in the Taylor Mile certainly do not end with the All Stars trio.
The emerging Henry Hubert adds intrigue to the race’s sensational line up.
The Robert Dunntrained pacer appears to be taking his game to new levels as this season goes on.
The Easter Cup fourth placegetter is the only horse that will start on the second row.
Mach Shard looks the best placed of the All Stars rivals from barrier 1.
The Barry Purdontrained pacer could land a brilliant run in the trail if Spankem is able to find the front and stay there.
Quality pacers On The Cards and Hail Christian add to an exciting contest.
Purdon and Rasmussen’s star 2yrold Sweet On Me will attempt to remain unbeaten in tonight’s group 1 Fillies Classic.
The stable could take home another group race trophy if Enhance Your Calm is able to turn the tables on Lotamuscle.
The trotter tasted defeat for the first time when Lotamuscle, trained by Paul Nairn, beat him on the line in the New Zealand Trotting Derby this month.
The pair will square off again in the group 2 Sires Stakes Championship tonight.