Friday's $500,000 Auckland Trotting Cup has emerged relatively unscathed from Sunday's brutal Interdominion Pacing Final, with favourite Monkey King now a certain starter.
The Interdominion runnerup had been under a slight cloud after Sunday's record run at Menangle left him with a cough, but Canterbury trainer Brendon Hill says a veterinary examination has cleared Monkey King to take his place on Friday at Alexandra Park.
He will be joined by the other four New Zealanders who contested the final and also accepted for an Auckland Cup start, meaning the Sydney race has had virtually no negative impact on the Alexandra Park classic.
Hill was relieved when vet John Ewens confirmed yesterday that both Monkey King and Baileys Dream were fine to start on Friday.
"After a hard series like that you never know," said Hill.
"But apart from the odd bit of wear and tear, which you expect after a series like that.
"He had a little cough after the race but we had a blood test taken and he is fine. So they will both be there on Friday night."
Hill said the one saving grace for Monkey King, Baileys Dream and the other New Zealand pacers who contested the Interdominions was they will require no fast work this week.
"After a series like that and a final run in that sort of time they couldn't be much fitter.
"So my job this week is to get them happy and healthy, not worry about the fitness."
Confirmation that Monkey King will start in the cup should see him shorten into around $2 by race time, especially as he will attract much of the Australian support in what will be a co-mingled pool.
Rival trainer David Butt has confirmed Bondy will also take his place in the race, even though the Hunter Cup winner was still in Sydney last night.
He was catching a different plane home from the other Kiwis who raced in the Interdominion Final.
"But we will definitely still be there on Friday night, especially after drawing well," Butt told the Herald.
The Geoff Small pair of Changeover and Awesome Armbro arrived home yesterday morning and jogged pleasingly.
"Changeover is feeling so well he was trying to pull his cover off so it's all good so far with him," said Small.
The South Auckland trainer is expected to confirm today that junior driver Zac Butcher will partner fifth favourite Tintin In America in the Cup.
Tintin In America's usual driver David Butcher is committed to Changeover while Small's regular stable second driver Phil Butcher drives Awesome Armbro.
With Small wanting Tintin In America driven for one run at the leaders on Friday, he opted for the young Butcher, who has driven 44 winners from fewer than 500 drives.
With Changeover set to be retired after the cup, David Butcher will then become available to partner Tintin In America in coming seasons.
While Australian pacer Washakie was pulled out of the cup on Sunday night, with no other scratchings expected, the Tim Butt-trained Raglan, who was backed at $101 on Sunday night after the draw, is unlikely to get a start.
Market: $2.20 Monkey King, $6 Bettors Strike, $6.50 Changeover, $7 Bondy, $9 Tintin In America, $16 Highview Tommy, Pembrook Benny; $18 Baileys Dream, $21 Raglan, $26 Big Dog, $31 Awesome Armbro, Ohoka Dallas; $41 Power Of Tara, $61 Georgetown.
Back in business:
* Monkey King is confirmed as a starter in Friday night's $500,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup.
* He is rated the $2.20 favourite for the great race.
* All the New Zealand pacers who accepted for the cup and started in the Interdominion Final are likely to start on Friday.
* Junior driver Zac Butcher could be the surprise reinsman for glamour 4-year-old Tintin In America.
Bailey's Dream will join Monkey King in the Auckland Cup on Friday. Photo / Martin Sykes
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