KEY POINTS:
A change of plans will see champion pacer Changeover chase one of the rarest doubles in harness racing.
And it means he is unlikely to race in the North Island again this year.
The wonder pacer will open a $3.20 favourite today for the New Zealand Cup on
November 13, a race which is expected to carry a $750,000 stake.
Those worried Changeover may not even make the trip south can invest with confidence because trainer Geoff Small has decided to send him even earlier than intended.
Changeover will now have his first start as a four-year-old in the Superstars Championship at Addington on October 5, a race which will double as his first standing start test.
It was originally thought the Auckland-owned pacer would race at Alexandra Park twice before heading south, but Small sees the four-year-old race at Addington as the better option.
"I think the backmark is 20m and we know he can beat most of those horses," said Small.
"Also, it could be easier than coming back against open class horses for his first standing start race."
Only two horses have won the Superstars and New Zealand Cup in the same season - Christian Cullen and his awesome daughter Mainland Banner, although she only won the Superstars in the inquiry room.
Small says the 2600m event will be Changeover's next start, followed almost certainly by the Flying Stakes at Ashburton.
That means he is unlikely to clash with cup second and third favourites, Monkey King and Baileys Dream, until the great race, unless Small adds one more lead-up to his programme at Addington on November 2.
"That is an option if he needs another start," he said.
Changeover, who was named North Island pacer of the year on Saturday, has just started standing start practice and the results will not please rival trainers.
"He acts like he has done it all his life, he just ignores the starting tape and paces away," said Small. "I can't see that being a problem for him."
Changeover will be back at the workouts next week, followed by another Auckland trial a week later before heading south.
His $3.20 opening price this morning is longer than TAB bookie Steve Richardson envisaged but he had to move Changeover out to accommodate the outstanding quality of nominations for the race. Monkey King will open the $6 second favourite ahead of stablemate Baileys Dream at $7, while Awesome Armbro completes a northern domination of the market at $8.
Defending champion Flashing Red is kept safer than last year at $9, with Mainland Banner out to $15, a price rarely quoted about her in the last 22 months.
One horse not rated by Richardson is Mi Muchacho, whose Addington hoodoo sees him at $21.
* The first South Island lead-up to the Cup is at Addington tomorrow night, where Baileys Dream, Flashing Red, Classic Cullen and Tribute clash.
Marika, an unlikely Cup entrant, races at Alexandra Park on Friday.