Ready to turn it up?

One chapter closes; another begins. Life goes on. 

And now for this mighty modern-day pacing warrior, the horse affectionately known as ‘Tac’ gets to spend the rest of his life trading stories with the ‘Godfather’ of harness racing – the horse simply known as Blackie.

Turn It Up, the Australian-bred but New Zealand-raised gelding recently had time called on his racing career.

Soon after, he nestled into his new surroundings at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, becoming the latest paddock mate of Mr Inter Dominion himself, four-time champion Blacks A Fake.

The property is owned by Vic and Cheryl Rasmussen, co-owners of Blacks A Fake, and over time, the roommates of Blackie have come and gone.

Initially, it was Blackie and his trusty companion Simon (aka Simons Left) who had full ownership of the paddock before the dynamic changed.

Names like No Asti Left (30 wins), Major Cam (27 wins) and Speech Is Silver (20 wins) have all spent time in the paddock with Blackie and Simon.

In some ways, the paddock has become Queensland’s version of Living Legends, homing several stars of Queensland harness racing.

Now, the latest inductee becomes Turn It Up.

Tac is not just any horse; he won 39 races and amassed over $1 million in earnings. So, it’s only fitting that a horse with the heart of lion spends his retirement with the one of the greatest champions to ever look through a bridle.

Blacks A Fake needs no introduction - his deeds and heroics are legendary!

But ever since arriving in the Sunshine State back in July 2020 and joining the then Logan Village stables of Vicki Rasmussen and Shane Graham, Tac has given everything he could possibly could every time he stepped onto a racetrack.

When he arrived, he came with a big reputation, but he also arrived as damaged goods.

Following 15 starts on New Zealand soil that netted 11 victories and four placings for Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, Turn It Up developed some issues and arthritis.

At one point, he was considered the brightest pacing talent in the southern hemisphere following a swag of feature race victories in dynamic fashion.

Back in 2018 at just his 9^th career start, Tac humbled his rivals with an emphatic display when winning the Group 1 Auckland Cup, then a Grand Circuit feature.

He was marked as favourite for both the Inter Dominion and New Zealand Cup in 2019.

Tac was part of the biggest stable with the biggest profile, and his name was on everyone’s lips at the time, his star burned brightly.

But things went awry.

The Auckland Cup, Easter Cup and Harness Jewels winner had undergone an operation to remove cartilage damage in both his front legs that forced him off the track.

Turn It Up was grounded.

He was off the scene for more than 12 months and when he did make a return, he was back in Australia.

Connections, on the advice from Purdon, elected to move him to Queensland in a bid to lengthen his career.

The short course racing coupled with his blinding gate speed was seen as a major bonus.

Nursed back to full health and meticulously cared for by Rasmussen and Graham, the gifted pacer thrived under the bright lights of Brisbane.

The attention to detail and bond created was obvious for all to see.

Between Rasmussen and Graham, Turn It Up raced another 111 times, which resulted in 38 victories plus 45 minor placings.

Under their care he banked another $564,199 after amassing $437,390 in New Zealand.

Scoring his first Albion Park victory at his second Queensland start on October 24 of 2020, a further 27 wins have followed.

All 28 Australian wins have been with Shane Graham in the seat.

With a lifetime best of 1:49.9 rate to his name, he is also a member of a select group of pacers to better 1:50 at Albion Park.

With $534,621 of his career $1,001,589 earnings recorded at Albion Park, Turn It Up sits eighth on the all-time earners list at the track.

Started in five Blacks A Fake Queensland Championships.

Started in five Sunshine Sprints.

Started in four Be Good Johnny Sprints.

Started in four Flashing Red Handicaps.

Started in two Redcliffe Gold Cups.

And started in two Inter Dominion series.

It is a remarkable testament to his courage and longevity.

His list of drivers during his Queensland racing campaign includes Shane Graham, Leonard Cain, Adam Sanderson, Brendan Barnes, Grant Dixon and Kelli Dawson.

But it’s the bond between Graham and Tac that stands above all others.

“He came along at the perfect time, I’d just got back from time away, and he helped me get going again. He’s up there with the best horses I’ve driven and he’s by far the fastest,” Graham said.

“His courage for getting through five years at the top level… he shouldn’t have done what he did, and nobody expected it. 

"The most satisfying moment was he broke 1:50 at his old age, his biggest win came via the Christmas Cup while his best performance was finishing third in the Blacks A Fake (behind Majestic Cruiser and Spirit Of St Louis) plus qualifying for the 2023 Inter Dominion Grand Final after contesting three heats within a week, something he’s never done previously.” 

Graham, 43, boasts unbelievable experience. He’s driven more than 3300 career winners!

Some of the open class stars that Graham has driven includes Avonnova, Be Good Johnny, Washakie, Cobbity Classic, Sailors Corner, Destreos, Gotta Go Cullen, Our Awesome Armbro, Our Hi Jinx, Ideal Scott, Mach Alert, Glenferrie Hood, Spare Me Days, Mach Da Vinci and Holy Camp Boy among others.

He was the leading National driver during the 2014/15 season, defeating the late Greg Sugars and late Gavin Lang while he finished as the runners up behind Chris Alford the following season.

Graham has also won the Queensland title four times. And he represented Australia at the 2017 World Drivers Championship in Canada competing against the likes of James MacDonald, Dexter Dunn, Mika Forss and coincidentally Mark Purdon among others.

This is where the friendship between Graham and Purdon really blossomed and before long, Purdon sent his troubled star to Queensland in a last-ditch effort to stymie the crippling arthritis throughout his knees and joints.

Purchased as a yearling from the 2016 Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sales in Melbourne by champion horseman Mark Purdon, the Courage Under Fire – O Narutac Bella youngster was shipped straight back to All Stars stables at Rolleston in Christchurch.

He was offered under the Durham Park draft of Bruce and Vicki Edward.

His ownership group included star New Zealand gallops trainer Jim and Ann Gibbs plus Neil and Lee Pilcher and Purdon while they leased him to Vicki Rasmussen during his Queensland stay.

Turn It Up went unraced as a two-year-old.

Fair to say, some great yarns could be told between Blacks A Fake and his new ‘roomie’ Turn It Up.

Blackie and Tac…. enjoying retirement together.

Collectively, they won 111 races while amassing more than $5.5 million.

In total, 127 Australian/New Zealand bred PACERS have amassed $1 million or more to date.

Welcome to the club Tac.

We salute you!