Spankem continued his perfect preparation for the New Zealand Cup when speeding past his star stablemates to win the Ashburton Flying Stakes yesterday.
A flying start then a perfect run in the trail helped the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained 5yr-old to zoom home, beating Thefixer and Self Assured.
It was Spankem's last race before the New Zealand Cup. He will have his final public hitout at next week's New Zealand Cup trials.
Spankem's New Zealand Cup quest got easier after the Flying Stakes when owner Jean Feiss ruled out any chance of Self Assured heading to the race.
The All Stars stable had hinted at such but left the decision with Feiss.
Self Assured ran a huge race for third making a mistake at the start, then sitting three-wide from the 600m.
The 4yr-old will again clash with New Zealand Cup-bound pacers in in next week's Kaikoura Cup.
Fifth placegetter Another Masterpiece and stablemate Ashley Locaz will also target the race.
Self Assured was a head away from runner-up Thefixer at the line.
Thefixer fought gallantly after taking the lead from Spankem with a lap to go
and rallied hard for Rasmussen in just his second spring start.
Chase Auckland also went well, finishing a nose away from Thefixer in fourth. The 5yr-old worked into the race three-wide after getting back from his unruly draw and was denied clear air for much of the run home.
Thefixer and Chase Auckland will join Spankem at the New Zealand Cup trials.
Clouds hang over two of the seven-strong All Stars team who contested the Flying Stakes.
Ultimate Sniper faded to run last after starting a wide bid before the home turn.
Cruz Bromac, in his first start back in All Stars colours, galloped free of interference in the straight.
There was no doubt about the reason for A G's White Socks' gallop at the start of the race after both his hopple shorteners broke when he paced off the mark.
The Greg and Nina Hope trained-pacer was six lengths off the back of the field on settling before recovering to run sixth.
Defending Dominion champion Marcoola won the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile in record time.
The Ken Ford-trained 7yr-old led by four lengths in the middle stages and eventually prevailed by a massive 12 and a-half lengths. He stopped the clock in 1minute 53.8sec, taking a massive 0.7sec off the all-comers mile (1609m) record he previously held jointly with Cyclone U Bolt and Stent.
