KEY POINTS:
Flashing Red's grip on the Auckland Trotting Cup loosened just a touch after he drew the worst possible barrier last night - one.
The veteran ironhorse was a $3.50 favourite before the draw but drifted to $3.80 after trainer Tim Butt selected an envelope with the number one
inside at the draw function at Alexandra Park.
While that draw would suit most horses in a 2700m mobile event, it is not ideal for Flashing Red as he doesn't have great gate speed and is not a sit-sprinter.
After an awesome performance when second to Classic Cullen in last Friday's lead-up race, many rivals were suggesting the only way to beat Flashing Red would be for him to get locked away and be unlucky.
While that may not happen, his drawing barrier one makes it at least possible.
Butt was not overly concerned by the draw, noting his brother Anthony, who will drive Flashing Red, is an expert at getting horses out of tricky situations.
Butt was actually hoping for barrier one with his other Cup runner, Foreal, yet she drew barrier eight.
"I would have much preferred that to go the other way," said Butt.
"But at least I know the horses are both well and they have come through Friday's race well.
"The rest will be up to the drivers."
The big winners out of the draw were Classic Cullen (2), Winforu (5) and Pay Me Christian (6).
The latter two are likely to move in at least one spot, with emergency Mr Bojangles drawing four.
Classic Cullen wasn't even guaranteed a spot in the field two weeks ago but sealed that with an upset win on Friday.
After that performance trainer Mark Purdon said all he needed to push for a cup win was a good draw, so barrier two is perfect.
"I am very happy with that because he has good gate speed and he has come through Friday's race very well."
He was rated a $35 chance last week but was $12 last night.
Another one of the favoured runners not well suited by the barrier draw is Awesome Armbro, who got as short as $6 in the market before the draw but was $8 immediately after.
He will start from one on the second line, behind Flashing Red.
That draw should be enough to convince David Butcher, his regular driver, to partner Winforu instead.
The field for the $400,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Trotting Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday night is. - Flashing Red (1), Classic Cullen (2), Waitfornoone (3), Mr Bojangles (4), Winforu (5), Pay Me Christian (6), Sly Flyin (7), Foreal (8), Awesome Armbro (9), Alta Serena (10), Monkey King (11), Napoleon (12), Badlands Bute (13), Mi Muchacho (14). Emergency: Mr Bojangles.
The market is: $3.80, Flashing Red; $6.50 Pay Me Christian; $7, Waitfornoone; $8 Awesome Armbro; $10, Monkey King; $12 Classic Cullen; $13, Winforu, Sly Flyin; $14 Foreal; $16 Alta Serena, Napoleon; $21, Mi Muchacho; $51, Badlands Bute and $61, Mr Bojangles.
* Victorian trainer Brian Tuddenham is looking at next month's Mildura Cup carnival after Sting Lika Bee extended his winning streak in the Casey Classic at Moonee Valley.
Sting Lika Bee stretched his winning run to six as he made a one-act affair of Saturday night's A$25,000 ($28,500) race. The 8-year-old added the Casey Classic to his wins in the Stawell, Shepparton, Ballarat and Hunter Cups as well as a Free-For-All spread over the past two months.
Sent out the $2.50 favourite, Sting Lika Bee worked to the front early where driver Amy Tubbs was able to dictate the race.
He responded by reeling off his final 800m in 56.4 seconds to win effortlessly by 4 1/4m from outsider Tactical Dreamer ($68.50).
Toe Tapper ($4.30) was 2m away third. Robin Hood ($4.50) again struggled and could do no better than an 11m seventh.
Sting Lika Bee recorded a mile rate of 1min 57.8secs for the 2100m.
Barrier blues
* Flashing Red has drawn barrier one in Friday night's Auckland Trotting Cup.
* That does not ideally suit the veteran stayer.
* He drifted in the market last night.
* The big mover in the last week has been Classic Cullen, from $35 to $12.