The NZ$200,000 1600-metre G1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile has attracted an even dozen for the Saturday Trentham feature and favouritism goes to $3.20 morning line pick Love Affair (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}). Running out of the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman barn, as does MGSW Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), the 4-year-old appears a progressive sort on paper. A first up winner in a 1400m Benchmark 85 at Pukekohe on Nov. 25, the dark bay made up a staggering amount of ground in a wide trip to take second by a half-length in the G2 Cal Isuzu S. when favoured at Te Rapa over a course that gave the edge to frontrunners on Dec. 16. She finished third most recently in a Cambridge barrier trial going 1200m on Jan. 9 and will carry only 117 pounds, up to eight pounds less than her rivals.
Second in the market is $5.50 shot and dual Group 3 winner Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). He ended his last campaign with a second-place performance in the G2 Manco Easter S. in April, but has only thrown in one clunker in his last five runs for trainer Peter Lock. The gelding ran to his short-priced odds when saluting in the G3 Grant Plumbing Thompson H., his first black-type victory over course and distance on Oct. 28 and he doubled up at that level in Ellerslie's G3 Eagle Technology S. over the reopposing MGSW Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) on Dec. 2. Trying Group 1 level for the first time on Boxing Day, Hiflyer threw in a rare head-scratcher when eighth in the G1 Zabeel Classic over 2000 metres.
Te Akau Racing's Splurge scored a Group 3 win at Ellerslie last season and has progressed during his five-start spring. In addition to placing third in a pair of Tauranga handicaps in November, he was also first past the post in the G2 Manawatu S. at Awapuni for a career high on Dec. 23 when last seen after the Eagle Technology.
Another who could have a say in the outcome is Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto), who is riding a three-race winning streak, among them the G2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton Park two back on Nov. 15.
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