KEY POINTS:
The man behind Changeover could leave it as late as Friday to decide whether racing's clash of the decade goes ahead.
Trainer Geoff Small says he may wait until then before deciding whether to start yesterday's New Zealand Cup winner in the $300,000 Free-For-All at Addington.
If he
does start it will be the first battle between Changeover and pacing's unbeaten hero Auckland Reactor in what would be one of the most-eagerly anticipated races in New Zealand in years. The pair are not only the glamour boys of racing but are stallions with a huge number of records on and off the track.
Already Auckland Reactor has been sold for close to $4 million and Changeover might be worth that much after yesterday's record-smashing win at Addington. Auckland Reactor missed the cup because of concerns over his standing start manners but warmed up for Friday's free-for-all with a pointless win yesterday. But as impressive as he was, 45 minutes later Changeover was incredible winning the $1.2 million Cup, New Zealand's richest harness race. But Small says because the record-breaking 3200m was so hard, he will wait to see how Changeover comes through the race.
"A race like that takes a lot out of a horse and he will be pretty tired tomorrow," said Small.
"Hey, we want to go head to head with Auckland Reactor and put on a show for people but the horse's well-being comes first.
"But if we start, the public will know he is ready to go a big one."
Changeover left little doubt as to his champion status yesterday, overcoming an early bobble to obliterate the world record for 3200m.
He settled fourth last yet looped the field to lead, then trail Baileys Dream and was simply superior down the long Addington home straight.
At a time when racing stakes have never been higher he looks certain to become our richest pacer, already edging his way toward $2 million in stakes. But that has to be split 50 ways, with the great horse owned by mainly small-time racing fans who bought into him cheaply through a deal organised by the Auckland Trotting Club.
Whether he starts on Friday or not the Australasian harness racing world is his to try and conquer, with an invitation to the A$500,000 Miracle Mile in Sydney in two weeks issued straight after the race.
That will be followed by nearly $3 million worth of races between now and the Interdominions in March, with many possible clashes with Australian champ Blacks A Fake and Auckland Reactor along the way.
Unbelievably for a horse who just set a world record in a gut-busting 3200m race, Changeover's life could be about to get even harder.
