KEY POINTS:
Exceptional pacer Monkey King has been placed on a no-standing start diet after costing punters a fortune in the last month.
And while the ban on the standing start was initiated by the stewards it will be carried on by trainer Steven Reid.
That means he misses Sunday's $70,000 Franklin Cup and instead will be set for the $400,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup in March.
Monkey King started the season with a series of devastating wins, which had many suggesting he could develop into the best pacer in New Zealand.
But he has blown the standing start at his last three outings, with his break in last Friday's Manukau Cup earning him a 14-day ban from competing in standing start races.
While that ruling irked trainer Reid he admits he is in no hurry to put punters through the agony of watching Monkey King trample their money into the track from a standing start again.
"It is a bit of a shame to miss the Franklin Cup because we had set him for that but I really don't want him in standing-start races for the rest of the season," said Reid.
"I think our stands lately have been pretty bad, which hasn't helped him but he is too good to risk in them.
"If he keeps galloping it is only a matter of time before he chops down on himself or it starts to affect his racing."
Monkey King will now contest two 4-year-old races at Cambridge next month before being aimed at the Auckland Cup, where he will clash with arch-rival Pay Me Christian.
Their meeting in the 2700m mobile is a major victory for the Auckland Trotting Club's decision to change the conditions of the race from a 3200m standing start.
"I know some people might think I am anti standing starts because Monkey doesn't like them at the moment but it really is nothing to do about that.
"I think mobile racing is better for the punters and suits more horses so I think the ATC is heading in the right direction.
"It is the way of the future and I am glad the club can see that," said Reid.
His comments ring truer now glamour mare Mainland Banner is out for at least the rest of the season, and possibly may not race again.
Without her, Monkey King and Pay Me Christian the Auckland Cup would hardly be a true test of the best pacers in the country. As a mobile event at least two of them should still be there.
Monkey King may be missing from Sunday's meeting but he is one of the few big names in the north not there for a massive 13-race programme.
Punters will be spoilt for highlights, with the Franklin Cup still attracting a top field but likely to be overshadowed by several of the other features.
Champion filly One Dream looks the bet of the day after drawing one in the $125,000 Sires Stakes Fillies Championship but things won't be so easy for top male 3-year-old Changeover.
He will have to start from one on the second line in the $200,000 PGG Wrightson Sales Series Pace, which has been bizarrely reduced from 2200m to 1700m this season.
The meeting will also feature the first 2-year-old race of the northern season.
But the most eagerly anticipated contest on Sunday may be the clash of veteran trotting stars Allegro Agitato and Pompallier against young guns One Over Kenny and Our Sunny Whiz in the $75,000 National Trot.
The meeting, which starts at 12.32pm, has a $100,000 Pick6 and final field fixed odds betting on all races.
