Racing: Another ace up trainer's sleeve

Gold Ace (inside), winning the NRM Sires Stakes, is seeking to add the PGG Wrightson Sales Series Pace to his tally today. Photo / Getty Images

Nothing eases the pain of having to scratch one of your stable stars from a $260,000 race like still having the hot favourite for the event.

That is the position trainer Steven Reid finds himself in for today's PGG Wrightson Sales Series Pace at Alexandra Park, from which he has had to scratch the in-form Charge Forward.

"I think he has developed a hoof abscess and he definitely wasn't right yesterday," said Reid.

"It is a real shame to miss this race but I don't think it is a long-term problem and he is too good to take risks with."

But Reid won't be thinking about that disappointment leading into the richest race of the weekend as he also trains Gold Ace, who could start odds on in the 2200m blockbuster.

The Sires' Stakes and Elsu Classic winner has drawn two and, with his gate speed and high cruising speed, it is hard to imagine any other scenario than him trying for an all-the-way win.

Considering he paced the second-fastest 2200m ever by a 3-year-old in this country two starts ago and he has a longshot in Statesman drawn to be his likely trailer, the race looks his to lose.

Perhaps the one nagging doubt any punter wanting to have a real crack at Gold Ace may have is the two hard runs he has had in recent weeks.

But Reid says that doesn't concern him. "He has come through them great," he told the Herald.

"He has eaten up well, worked well and his blood report is perfect.

"Because I own a decent share in him, I don't want to get too confident, but really things couldn't have worked out better with the draws."

Especially with the other favourites, Major Mark and Empyrean, drawn on the second line.

Major Mark needed his run when second to Gold Ace last start and will have improved a lot but he faces covering four or five lengths more than the leader.

Empyrean may well be as good as the other two but has had no luck in his last three starts.

He could get an economical trip on the markers today but doesn't really appeal as a sit-sprinter, more of a rolling stayer. Still, he looks the best quinella mate for the favourite.

Later in the day, Reid is expecting an improved performance from Sno's Big Boy in the National Trot after his disappointing third in a race run to suit at Cambridge last Friday.