KEY POINTS:
Mainland Banner is to sidestep the big boys at Addington tomorrow in an attempt to get her campaign back on track.
New Zealand's glamour pacer suffered the worst defeat of her glistening career when she faded to ninth after a gutbusting run in Tuesday's New Zealand Cup.
It
was surprising then that her connections put her in tomorrow's $125,000 New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington, although her tilt at that race lasted just a few minutes.
Almost as soon as she drew barrier 16 in tomorrow's sprint she was scratched.
Trainer Robert Dunn said he did not want the mare to have another hard run after two taxing races so far this season.
They come on the back of a preparation interrupted by leg problems which have left Mainland Banner very clearly on the back foot.
So Dunn will use a $25,000 mares' race at Addington next Friday as the next step in her campaign.
Mainland Banner will start an unbackable favourite in that race and if she suffers another defeat her planned Australian campaign, starting with the Victoria Cup on December 16, must be in jeopardy.
Another option would be for the reigning Horse of the Year to have a small break to let her get over her traumatic spring and be set for the Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley in February.
Even with Mainland Banner out of tomorrow's group one event the free-for-all has drawn a stronger than expected field.
All of the big players from the exciting New Zealand Cup run - minus Mainland Banner - will clash again tomorrow.
Cup winner Flashing Red has drawn slightly awkwardly at barrier seven, with Winforu likely to be the big shortener from the cup after drawing to use his gate speed from barrier three.
Last year's winner Howard Bromac returns in barrier one but the horse who pushed him close, London Legend, is only an emergency.
He was rated good enough to get a start over Badlands Bute in the cup on Tuesday but the latter has got the nod in front of him tomorrow.
One cup hero who won't be in the free-for-all is winning driver Anthony Butt.
He has chosen to miss the race to fly to Sydney and drive Foreal in the A$100,000 ($115,000) Ladyship Mile at Harold Park.
"You never like missing a drive like Flashing Red in the free-for-all but Foreal has been in our stable a long time and she can get an invite to the Miracle Mile if she wins on Friday," said Butt.
"You can't be everywhere."
John Hay gets the Flashing Red drive after partnering the veteran pacer in his first start of this New Zealand campaign in September.
"John is a good aggressive driver and I am sure he will do the right thing by the horse," said Butt.
Butt could be setting some sort of record though as he will drive in the first four races at Addington before flying to Sydney.
With few New Zealand premier harness meetings held during the day this could be the first time a Kiwi reinsman has driven at major meetings in New Zealand and Australia in the same day.