By MICHAEL GUERIN
There will be much more than a healthy $27,500 on the line when the hottest 4-year-old field of the year go to war at Cambridge tonight.
The Cambridge Classic has maintained its tradition of excellence with a sensational field headed by Pacer of the Year Stars And Stripes with a supporting cast of Bruzem, Quick Tip, Dancingonmoonlight and Mike's Pal to mention just a few.
But it isn't just the stake which has brought such a hot field together - it is the lure of a much bigger prize in two weeks.
Tonight's 2200m mobile is the last chance for most in the field to press for an invitation to Australasia's richest four-year-old race, the $A200,000 Chariots Of Fire in Sydney on March 9.
Harold Park officials have indicated that they may invite two, and possibly even three, Kiwis to the great race and tonight's Cambridge feature will be crucial.
"Obviously Stars And Stripes is the horse we know best and would have to be at the head of the New Zealand list," said Harold Park boss Peter V'Landys.
"But we are also looking at Bruzem, Cool Hand Luke and Quick Tip.
"Whoever wins and runs well at Cambridge will be a big chance of getting an invite, while we know Cool Hand Luke isn't racing there but is obviously a very good horse."
Cool Hand Luke's trainer, Mark Purdon, has opted to bypass tonight's race and may head to Sydney next week to press for a Chariots invite, although his domination of the recent Elliot Futurity series suggests he is the second most likely New Zealand invite.
That would mean the two under the most pressure tonight are Quick Tip and Bruzem. While Bruzem has the bigger reputation Quick Tip's best performances this season have been at least as good as the southerner.
Both face second line draws tonight but the chances of the free-going Bruzem have not been helped by drawing one on the second line behind Upanoff, who may not have the gate speed to lead and wouldn't want to stay there if he did.
Quick Tip has drawn the outside of the second line but has been in brilliant form at recent workouts and it would not surprise to see driver Brent Mangos press on early with the upstanding pacer in an attempt to put some rivals between himself and Stars And Stripes.
If he managed to find the front then Quick Tip could be the horse to beat but it is Stars And Stripes who still deserves to be favourite.
With the right run he ranks in the top six pacers in New Zealand and may well get the truly run race he loves tonight, giving driver Ken Barron a chance to unleash one of the most devastating sprints in harness racing.
The value option could be Mike's Pal. His form looks ordinary on paper but he has had a luckless summer and will return to his favourite conditions - a mobile sprint race.
He should settle handy from the draw and has a lethal finishing kick so any odds over $6 would be good money.
The other feature is the first northern heat of the Sires' Stakes series which underlines the depth of this season's northern juvenile crop.
Cardigan Bay stakes winner Jack Cade deserves to be favourite even though he blew his last start here by racing erratically when vying for the lead.
His earlier race and trial efforts showed he was the best juvenile in the north but he will have to show tractability tonight from a widish draw at the trickly mile starting point.
His stablemate Tricky Vic was a game winner here last start and will be an improver on that run but has also yet to developed gate speed so will need some luck early as it is extremely hard to come from beyond midfield over a mile at Cambridge.
The draws greatly favour last week's Alexandra Park winner Lord Vicolo, who does have high gate speed and perfect manners. If he can cross to the lead then he will be perfectly placed to either stay there or attempt to use the passing lane.
His biggest concern in that regard will be Classical Fella, who has drawn the ace. He came from back in the field to win two starts ago but does possess real gate speed and is a must for trifectas from the draw in a fine field.
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