The clock is ticking for Star Galleria when the open class pacers make their earliest northern return in decades at Alexandra Park this Thursday.
The open class elite stars starting down the road to the New Zealand Cup in August was common 30 years ago but in recent years many haven't been seen until late September and with the north's struggling for consistent open class numbers the pre-Cup racing has been spasmodic at best.
But lock down and the loss of autumn harness racing has everybody ready to rumble a lot earlier and here we are five days into the new racing season with a serious open class race full of genuine New Zealand Cup hopes.
That is great for Alexandra Park on a night where they have been able to programme 12 races, including some of the better trotters also returning.
But the new-found early season depth to the open class ranks may not help Star Galleria admits trainer Steven Reid, who now prepares him in partnership with Simon McMullan.