Old NZ Warrior does it. Makes it to the million dollars like Cardigan Bay

[Gammalite]

One of the un-heralded greats of the harness track , has finally reached his lifetime achievement award . One of my favourite horses ever. can still run near 1.51 now lol.

TURN IT UP joined a special group of horses that raced for years on end , racking up $100,000 quietly each season for 5-6. years . 

And last Saturday the young New Zealander new on the scene out-finished him . youngster WHO's DELIGHT taking the win after arriving from Dunn's. But 2nd place Prizemoney was enough to carry him over the magic $1,000,000 earnings, a spot reserved for the true greats of harness history. 

Turn It Up had won an Auckland Cup in his younger more athletic days 😅  for owner Mark Purdon . (he's raced here 5-6 seasons on lease for Natalies sister Vicki Rasmussen once the kiwi's got to quick for him , like stable-mate Self Assured and Co.)

here's a part clipping of a tribute to him this week .   Who's Delight sneaking up the inside of the old Warrior to take the Win . But he tried hard as always. 

Turn It Up reaches magic milestone

02 March 2026 | Jordan Gerrans

 

Shane Graham would have loved to achieve the rare milestone with a victory, but nonetheless, he was chuffed to tick past the magical $1 million mark with veteran speedster Turn It Up on Saturday evening.

Renowned for his lighting gate speed, Turn It Up has been chipping away at reaching the rich prizemoney level in recent months.

The 11-year-old did so finally on Saturday when he went within a head of beating the Grant Dixon-prepared and driven Whos Delight in the Junior Free For All event over 1660 metres.

The popular pacer joins an esteemed list of Sunshine State racehorses who have earned $1 million or more in stakes across their careers.

Turn It Up was welcomed into the ‘millionaire club’ alongside Leap To Fame, Blacks A Fake, Colt Thirty One, Flashing Red, Be Good Johnny, Slipnslide, Fleur De Lil, Washakie and For A Reason, among others.

Trainer and driver Graham has considered retirement for his evergreen gelding in recent times and was hopeful of achieving the prizemoney milestone with a victory and then pacing into retirement.

“For a split second, it looked like it was going to be that way on Saturday night, but the other horse was too good for us,” he said.

“You don't get too many opportunities to train a pacer that's earned $1 million.

“I have had the horse for so long, it was pretty great to get it. He's been at that level for so long now, he's just kept sort of turning up year in, year out.

“He races the best and he is always facing the new kid on the block that is coming through.

Edited 2 hours ago by Gammalite