Racing: Adore Me among winning chances

Mark Purdon drives Adore Me (13) to victory in the NZ Trotting Cup at Addington in November. Photo / Getty Images

Purdon drops Inter Final to concentrate on next Friday’s Auckland Cup.

Mark Purdon says he has no regrets about turning his back on a possible $500,000 payday with Adore Me tomorrow.

The champion New Zealand pacing mare is a heavily backed favourite for the A$200,000 Ladyship Mile at Menangle tomorrow on a day when Kiwis have winning chances in five group ones.

Adore Me could have pressed for favouritism in the A$750,000 Inter Dominion Final had Purdon not elected to pull her out of the series three weeks ago, preferring the Ladyship as it is an easier lead-in to next Friday's Auckland Trotting Cup.

"We are very keen on the Auckland Cup with her, but because she is a a mare I wouldn't have gone Inter Final and then the Cup five days apart," said Purdon.

"But she should come out of a mile perfectly fine and then have a good chance in the Cup."

As the New Zealand Cup winner Adore Me, with the right draw, could have pressed Beautide for favouritism for the 3009m mobile Inter Final, which now has only one New Zealand rep.

That is Terror To Love, who seems to be racing at least two lengths below his best and has barrier nine, suggesting he will need a miracle.

Beautide is drawn to head forward early, and if he can wrest the lead from likely pacemaker Lennytheshark, he should defend the title he won last season, with the Lennytheshark and For A Reason the likely dangers.

Even from her wide draw in the Ladyship, Adore Me can beat Frith as she jogged a 1:51 mile sitting parked last Saturday and is unlikely to have to go faster tomorrow.

Her stablemate Fight For Glory also faces a wide draw in the NSW Oaks but it looks a race with some pressure and she can still win, especially as co-favourite Delight Me may not be suited by her ace draw.

Hug The Wind gives Purdon and training partner - and driver for the day - Natalie Rasmussen the horse to beat in the NSW Derby, as he has the gate speed to hold the front from barrier one, especially as fellow Kiwi pacer Art Union could look for a trail early.

Franco Ledger gets his shot in tomorrow's A$100,000 free-for-all at consolation for missing the Inter Final, and the race of the day should be the Chariots Of Fire, in which Our Sky Major and Isaiah take red hot form in against Bling It On and Yankee Rockstar.