Yesterday started well and just got better for the superstars of northern pacing.
The heroes of harness racing return at Alexandra Park on Friday night when Holmes D G and Yulestar head a field of 10 in the $20,000 Spring Cup.
That is the perfect first step for the northerners on the path to the New Zealand Cup.
If 10 pacers can be drawn to a free-for-all this week then northern clubs should be able to draw enough entries to hold the open class races carded in the next two months, especially with the upcoming handicap races even more appealing to lower class entries.
That may not sound like a big deal but to the trainers of our best pacers it should ensure the ideal New Zealand Cup build-up.
In recent years the pool of open class northern pacers has been split as some headed south for their lead-up races while others stayed home. That created uncertainty over whether races would go ahead and occasionally vital races fell over because of a lack of numbers.
But with a few open class pacers still to join the ranks - most notably Agua Caliente and Ouch - northern trainers now know they can stay close to home until just before the Cup.
Which provides two advantages. The first is less time away from home for our best horses while their trainers now have the option of flying to Christchurch just a week before the Cup.
That was the first piece of good news for northern trainers. The second was they won't have to take on Australia's best pacer in the Cup.
Interdominion champion Shakamaker was pulled out of Cup contention by trainer John Justice yesterday.
Justice and owner John Wolfe have decided to aim the great horse at the Miracle Mile, which unfortunately for Addington officials is just 10 days after the New Zealand Cup this year.
"We would have loved to go to Addington but it would have been hard to travel there and then get back to Sydney," said Justice.
The loss of Shakamaker is a blow for Addington officials but at least five Victorian pacers are being aimed at the Cup.
Auckland Cup and Interdom Grand Final placegetter Breeny's Fella heads the list of potential Addington candidates, along with Persistency, the greatly improved Jonnell's Son and the Andy Gath-trained pair of The Major Bid and Ole Black Magic. Lombo Rapida is also rated an outside Cup hope.
Champion pacer Courage Under Fire should finally return to the track on Friday night.
The wonder horse has not raced since his dramatic Interdom Final failure in February and was expected to return to Bulli yesterday but scared his opposition away.
With the star of the Harold Park winter, Warwick Lad, heading back to Victoria, Courage Under Fire will face only moderate opposition, giving new trainer Brian Hancock the easy race he has been waiting for.
Racing: Dream day for northerners
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