KEY POINTS:
If you were confused about Mainland Banner heading into the New Zealand Trotting Cup, last night's cup trial at Addington wouldn't have helped much.
The defending champion has had an interrupted preparation for next Tuesday's $500,000 race and attempting to make history by winning it with just one lead-up race.
Because of her lack of racing this season the 2600m cup trial was one of the few guides punters could get on the mare's chances next week, but her second placing proved little.
After settling third she ran on well to just go under to Napoleon in a steady 3:15.8, the last 800m in 57.1 seconds, final 400m in 27.
Critics will suggest if she had improved on her seasonal debut at Ashburton two weeks ago she should have been able to run past the winner after having the perfect run.
But Mainland Banner has rarely been a great trialist and her effort last night was better than her only trial before her stunning second in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton.
After the race trainer Robert Dunn was pleased, especially with the solid pace helping to make up for the lead-up race Mainland Banner missed last Friday night.
Winforu was a sound third after trialing last night while Sly Flyin stepped well and was an encouraging fourth after not being asked for his best in the straight.
The most worried trainer coming out of the trial could be Steven Reid after Baileys Dream missed away and settled last, making up a little ground in the final 400m.
Meanwhile, Flashing Red's perfect New Zealand Cup preparation continued with yesterday's barrier draw.
The second favourite will go into the great race the winner of his last three races, including beating Mainland Banner in national record time in the Ashburton Flying Stakes.
That left many rival trainers suggesting Flashing Red would be the pacer to beat in the cup should he reach the front.
And after the barrier draw only an early break or bad manners look any chance of keeping him from the pacemaker's role.
Flashing Red drew ideally at eight on the front line, coming into seven if first emergency Badlands Bute is scratched.
That means he should not have to come into line too early, which many drivers hate in the New Zealand Cup as the start can be a very drawn-out affair.
More importantly, though, most of those drawn inside him are sit-sprinters, whose drivers would be happy to take a trail behind the Australian iron-horse.
The only one with different thoughts may be Andrew McCarthy on Queensland visitor Cobbity Classic but as he broke in his only standing start race he may not be an early factor come Tuesday.
Mighty Cullen was the big loser in the draw, being the only horse who could draw the front to end up on the second line.
Earlier in the day Addington officials deliberated hard before giving the final spot in the field to London Legend, ahead of northern pacer Badlands Bute. The latter is very unlucky to miss out, especially as London Legend has not finished closer than fifth in his last three starts.
There were suggestions Badlands Bute could sneak into the race because of the cloud over Roman Gladiator, who has had a lung infection. He performed better in the cup trial but may still not be a certain starter.
While Badlands Bute had no luck with field selection yesterday, thing could hardly have gone better for fellow northern pacers Fergiemack and Changeover.
The pair have the handy front line draws to dominate Tuesday's other feature race, the $175,000 Sires' Stakes Final.
Not only do they have outsiders drawn inside them but the other favourites, Gotta Go Cullen (10), Montecito (12) and Ebony Gem (15) have all drawn the second line.
The Cup will be run at the later than usual time of 5.15pm to allow more people a chance to get on track or watch after work.
The fields for the two group one races on Tuesday.-
RACE 8
3.55: NRM SIRES' STAKES SERIES, $175,000, 1950m.- Day Of Our Lives (1), Mister Barnett (2), Announcement (3), Charles Bronson (4), Bromac Maravu (5), Keytoourdreams (6), Fergiemack (7), Changeover (8), Niraadi (9), Gotta Go Cullen (10), Shinny (11), Montecito (12), Days Of Courage (13), Jackson Street (14), Ebony Gem (15) fr. Ems: Keytoourdreams, Day Of Our Lives.
RACE 10
5.15: NZ TROTTING CUP, $500,000, 3200m.- It's Ella (1), Waipawa Lad (2), London Legend (3), Winforu (4), Cobbity Classic (5), Roman Gladiator (6), Badlands Bute (7), Flashing Red (8), Imagine That (9), Tribute (10), The Flyin Doctor (11), Bobs Blue Boy (12), Mighty Cullen (13), Likmesiah (14), Baileys Dream (Ur), Sly Flyin (Ur) fr, Howard Bromac (1), Mainland Banner (2) 10. Ems: Badlands Bute, Bobs Blue Boy, Likmesiah.
