"So I wouldn't think I'd get the front with Turn It Up. He can still win but with Spankem likely to be in front I think he might even be our best chance."
As good as Turn It Up is, if Spankem leads then his stats this season suggest he is clearly the horse to beat and the $3.10 offered by bookies could be great value.
Spankem has had 13 starts this season and led in five of those. He won them all, including the Miracle Mile and its Prelude as well as the star-studded Kaikoura Cup.
His only other win came when sitting parked outside an inferior rival and controlling the tempo, so a similar pattern to leading.
But in the seven other starts this season where he hasn't been able to lead he has been beaten, running unplaced in three of them. Stat fact: when Spankem leads he wins, when he doesn't he usually doesn't.
Of course nothing is guaranteed in racing but considering he was fast enough off the gate to lead the Miracle Mile two starts ago, has the uber aggressive Rasmussen on and Purdon seemingly happy to concede the front, Spankem is the horse you want to be on tonight.
A reversal in the market as money comes for Spankem could even gift punters the opportunity to cover late on Turn It Up, who is exceptional and could still win from the one-one but might struggle to justify favouritism sitting parked.
Purdon is very confident Sweet On Me will remain unbeaten in the Caduceus Club Classic while he warns punters on two fronts with Enhance Your Calm in the Sires' Stakes Trot.
The hot favourite was beaten after leading in the NZ Trot Derby but went into the race looking too skinny so early in a campaign.
"We had the vets go over him after that race and find he had a few little niggles which were treated and he must have put on 30 or 40kgs since then so clearly they were bothering him. So I think he will be better this week but I would like to drive him differently from the second line.
"Often in his races he has led easily but he has been explosive at the trials when driven with a sit so he might get a chance to show that this week."
For all the class of those races the contest of the night should be the Anzac Cup, which looks the trotting race of the season so far.
There are a huge number of winning chances and while the best version of Marcoola could overcome his second line draw any one of (in order or preference) Massive Metro, Lemond, Ronald J, Speeding Spur, Sundees Son, Majestic Man or even Temporale could win without shocking.
Punting at Park
• Best: Spankem (R7, No.2): Turn It Up might even be the better horse but if the Miracle Mile winner is going to lead in a mile at Alexandra Park you simply have to be on him.
• Long shot: Ronald J (R6, No.2): Had a few issues last couple of starts but at massive money tonight he could be handy in a tricky tactical race.
• Place punt: Kratos (R5, No.2): Not as good as some here but highest assessed of the front line horses and if he finds the markers first he has options.
