Turn It Up poised for Newcastle Mile tilt

By Jordan Gerrans

Driver Shane Graham has been buoyed by Tuesday morning’s positive barrier draw for Turn It Up ahead of Friday evening’s Group 1 Newcastle Mile.

The sport’s pin-up pacer Lochinvar Art - rated a $1.40 chance to take out the feature event with the TAB - drew poorly in 10 on Tuesday morning while Turn It Up will come from seven.

Regular driver of Turn It Up, Graham, is not getting ahead of himself following the favourable draw but says it will certainly help.

Lochinvar Art has an imposing record leading towards Friday’s Newcastle Mile, winning 27 career races from 49 starts, with $1,083,456 in the bank for connections.

“The main thing was drawing inside of Lochinvar Art and that has happened, that is a plus,” Graham said.

“It is still going to be a bloody hard race.

“If we had been drawn outside of him, you would be deflated but at least he has drawn in the middle.

“He has come up with a good draw, being inside Lochinvar Art.”

Victorian driver and trainer of Lochinvar Art, David Moran, says the draw was not ideal but will press ahead with their initial plans.

“It is not the best draw, but we have had a bit of luck with draws of late in other races so we cannot really complain,” Moran said.

“He travelled up well with the grand final in a couple of weeks times.

“Fitness will not be the issue, neither will back to the shorter distance – it will be the barrier draw and he will have to be good.

“Turn It Up has been going really well and so has a couple of others.

“I am sure he will run a good race and be better again in a fortnight's time.”

The Turn It Up team have recently made their way to NSW following his last effort in the Sunshine State, blowing away rival Colt Thirty One at Albion Park earlier this month.

It was an impressive performance on that evening that even had Graham shocked at how well he won, getting home four-and-a-half metres, leading towards the feature southern races.

“I did not expect him to be able to do that, he took me by surprise,” Graham said.

“When you go away as we have done after that race, it gives you a fair bit of confidence.

“It makes you think you are doing the right thing with the horse, for sure.”

The former Auckland Cup champion and multiple Group 1 winner is enjoying his southern experience so far, Graham says.

“He seems good and has settled in well down here,” he said.

“He is happy with him self and everything, it is all going well, touch wood.”

Graham and trainer Vicki Rasmussen will get through Friday’s Newcastle Mile with Turn It Up before looking towards the $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle on the first Saturday of March.

As of Tuesday morning, Turn It Up is rated a $4.20 chance to upset Lochinvar Art in Friday’s Newcastle Mile.