It is not the $5500 stake of his minor race that has lured exciting 3-year-old pacer Hughie Green to Cambridge tonight but the chance of a shot at group one glory.
The path to the Sires' Stakes Final at Addington on November 11 could well lead through tonight's opening legof Pick6 (R4).
After a huge win to launch his new campaign at Auckland, Hughie Green is hardly the class of pacer you would expect to turn up at Cambridge racing for almost the minimum stake but trainer Brian Hughes has a good reason for lining up.
In two weeks' time the northern feature-race season for the 3-year-old pacers kicks off with the Sires' Stakes heat at Cambridge, leading into their first group one of the season at Addington on New Zealand Cup Day.
Which is what brings Hughie Green to Cambridge tonight.
"I wanted to give him another look at the track down there before the Sires' Stakes heat," says Hughes.
"And he has got a good draw so it should work out well."
Hughie Green has actually been to Cambridge before, winning on debut last season before only having one more start as a juvenile. "He was too big and weak to show his best and he still might be to last the 3-year-old season but he is well at the moment."
He proved that with a sub-55-second last 800m when second to Chachingchaching at the Alexandra Park workouts last Saturday so the son of former NZ Cup runner-up Alta Serena should be winning tonight.
