KEY POINTS:
Flashing Red's New Zealand Cup defence could face a major hurdle.
The incredible veteran pacer returns to racing at Albion Park in Brisbane tomorrow night, up against Interdominion champion Blacks a Fake.
The race is a lead-up to features like the Sunshine Sprint and Winter Cup in coming weeks and, after those features, the great horse's future should become a lot clearer.
Because while Canterbury trainers Tim Butt and Phil Anderson masterminded Flashing Red's amazing New Zealand-Auckland cups double this season, Butt is unsure whether they will get to train him next season.
Flashing Red's latest campaign is being overseen by long-time trainer Stu Hunter, who was training him when he was forced out of the Interdominions with an elevated TC02 level in January.
Hunter has expressed a desire to race Flashing Red in Australia until October before bringing him to Addington to defend the New Zealand Cup he won so bravely last season.
That could mean Butt and Anderson don't get the chance to work with the veteran as they did this season, when he cleaned up cup lead-up races like the Ashburton Flying Stakes and Methven Cup.
Already facing a 15m backmark in the New Zealand Cup, Flashing Red will need to be every bit as powerful as during that campaign to have any winning chance.
"We are not sure what is happening," said Butt yesterday. "We had heard reports Stuey wants to race him over there so I rang him a week ago and he didn't really let on.
"We'd love to have him back and the sooner the better."
The stallion's future should become a lot clearer in the next fortnight as Butt's brother, Anthony, is expected to fly to Brisbane to partner him in the major races ahead.
"Hopefully then we will get an indication of what they want to do because I think the racing over here suits him better than the racing over there," said Tim Butt.
While Flashing Red's participation in Butt's famous colours is not guaranteed, he still has plenty of elite horseflesh being primed for the new season.
Foreal and Tribute, who starred in Australia last season, are thriving in their work but will be set different paths.
"Foreal will miss the New Zealand Cup because the standing start just isn't her go," said Butt.
"So I am looking at taking her to Brisbane in October and then head down to Sydney for the races building up to the Miracle Mile."
But Tribute will start the season a lot closer to home, as he did successfully last season.
"He will follow the same programme because I think he has a chance off the front in the New Zealand Cup.
"After that I might even look at taking him to Perth over Christmas and then back for races like the Hunter Cup."
But the new season is not shaping up quite so brightly for the stable's other open class star, Tuherbs.
Last season's Easter Cup winner is likely to miss all the open class features because of a tiny crack in a pastern bone.
"It was so small the vets couldn't even find it and we eventually had to a fly a special digital x-ray machine across from Australia, which picked it up.
"It is close to his tendon and is risky so we will give him plenty of time. I'd say he will miss almost all of the open class season."
The news is better on former Rowe Cup winner Inspire, who joined the stable at the start of this season after being bought for big money.
She has recovered well from an injury she suffered when checked at Kaikoura and is working well.
"She looks great and has really filled out.
"At this stage, she is very much on track for the good trotting races here and in Australia."
