KEY POINTS:
Sam Spratt would have been happy not to have ridden at Tauranga today on her 24th birthday.
She felt winning yesterday's $125,000 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on Culminate was enough reason to celebrate and have today off.
But the Sam Spratt travelling road show is rolling too well to be taking racedays off.
"Sammy just asked me how many [rides] she had at Tauranga tomorrow, hoping she had only a handful," said her manager Mike Brown after the Rich Hill.
"But she's just about full up - how can you turn down rides for her?"
Trainer Stephen McKee wasn't surprised that Culminate won, but he was mildly surprised that on the way the race was run, stablemate Striker didn't run past her in the final stages.
Culminate led and provided Striker with a perfect trail.
"I knew she'd [Culminate] fight on, but with 4kg less I felt confident Striker might get the better of her from the home turn."
Striker made her run for Leith Innes along the inside rail and Sam Spratt moved Culminate out towards the centre of the track.
"It's not a case of the inside rail being 'off', but there is a bit of wear and tear inside after three days' racing," said Spratt."It wasn't a case of going very wide, but it's probably a little better where we were."
McKee said a month ago he would aim Culminate at the Telegraph at Trentham, but has switched attention to the Thorndon Mile.
"The way the Telegraph is shaping up, the Thorndon is a better option.
"Then she can have a crack at the Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa and the Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha," he said.
