MOST film buffs will recall the 1945 Hitchcock classic Spellbound which regaled the story of a man who wasn’t what he originally seemed.
Fast forward 66 years and there’s a mare of the same name; and she too may be lulling us into a false sense of security.
First up for Nathan Purdon, son of the legendary Mark, Spellbound set tongues wagging with an amazingly arrogant triumph, ending the unbeaten sprint record of Tangoingwithsierra in the process.
In two runs since she has maintained her flawless Australian resume but done so in much more moderate fashion.
The question for punter tonight, as she attacks the Group 3 Allied Express Richmond Lass, is as follows.
Is the 2021 version of Make Mine Cullen, a mare that won’t always win by big margins but will almost always dominate her own gender one way or another.
Or is she just a handy horse whose been favoured by fortune since crossing the Tasman.
Hopefully, for the curious among us, that question will be answered tonight as she seeks to overcome a dreaded gate eight draw battling quality opposition.
If she fails in this quest the knockers, who often hide in quiet places, will have their knives sharpened for the kill.
If she prevails, as her record suggests she will, then hopefully, finally she’ll be afforded the respect and reverence she probably already deserves.
THOSE that attended the action on Shepparton Cup night, or noted the post-race interviews on Trots Vision, will vividly recall the night’s most breathtaking revelation.
Moments after Patsbeachstorm recorded an arrogant comeback triumph after a tumultuous year off the scene, trainer/driver David Moran was interviewed on track.
After the journey that, then juvenile, had travailed – including a toxic injection from one of Australia’s many venomous creatures – it was always expected that Moran would be naturally emotional.
But when he knighted Patsbeachstorm as his favourite horse, the captive crowd were predictably aghast.
For context, Moran is the man behind Lochinvart Art, one of the finest pacers witnessed on Australian soil I recent years, he's also the horse that claimed the Shepparton Cup just hours later.
He’s a smart man though Moran.
And in following months we came to comprehend why he felt the way he did.
Aside from going down in the inaugural VHRC Caduceus Club 3YO Classic, Patsbeachstorm completed a flawless campaign last time in which included an arrogant clean sweep of the NSW Derby series at Menangle.
Tonight, he returns in heat one of the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Metropolitan Pace Final at Tabcorp Park.
Against him are his fresh status and a second line draw (9) over 1720m.
His advantage is an extraordinary edge in class which should not only see him sweep this series, but also become one of Australia’s most vaunted horses in coming months.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.