KEY POINTS:
Tonight's Trillian Trust Auckland Cup race will see reinsman Steven Reid driving his favourite horse in a bid to realise a dream snatched away from him last year.
That moment was one of the most enduring images of the racing season.
As the exhausted combatants hit the line
in November's New Zealand Cup, Reid appears in shock then hangs his head in despair.
The image, replayed countless times in slow motion on television, summed up the beautiful cruelty of racing.
Just 100m earlier Reid, driving his favourite horse, Monkey King, had reached the lead in the great race and was preparing his victory salute. But veteran iron horse Flashing Red fought back inside him for the most improbable victory.
You might think second isn't bad, especially when it comes with a decent cheque. But this was Reid's dream and he had it torn from his grasp.
Think of an actor walking to the stage to accept the Oscar, only to be told the wrong name had been read out.
Tonight, at Alexandra Park, Reid gets his chance for redemption.
He will partner Monkey King again in the $400,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup.
He also trains third favourite Baileys Dream. If one of the pair can beat likely leader Classic Cullen it should win.
Reid says he has learned from that painful afternoon in in November, after which he publicly criticised himself for taking off too early approaching the home turn.
"I have learned to be cool, to not stress and enjoy it," says harness racing's poster boy. "It bloody hurt losing that race but it was my fault and at least by coming out and admitting it I managed to put it behind me."
Very new-age words from a man starring in the sometimes stoic world of racing.
But that is Reid. He relaxes by practising yoga and meditation. He wears lycra racing colours.
In an old-fashioned industry he is a one-man neon sign. Punters shouldn't let that fool them, though.
Reid is a training genius, who has taken on and beaten the best in North America and now has one of the most feared stables in all of racing.
While he thinks both his horses could win tonight he is typically forthright about who punters should back.
"Bailey is good but Monkey is better. If he is not unlucky, he should win," said Reid.
Victory would come with a huge payday and a nice shiny cup. But after the heartache of November, it will mean much more than that to Reid.
The cup is run at 9.20pm tonight.
