KEY POINTS:
Five years ago Steven Reid wouldn't have mixed his words - he would have declared Monkey King a certainty in tomorrow's $200,000 Harness Jewels at Ashburton.
But the older, wiser, calmer Reid won't say that. Even though he believes it is true.
It wasn't that long ago Reid
was better known as a tipster than a top trainer, although it was obvious he was always going to develop into the latter.
He was the first harness horseman to embrace Trackside television and would have made a great TV host himself, with an analytical brain and the courage to say what he thinks.
But those days are gone. These days he is more business and less flash, with one of the most imposing records in the training ranks.
Horses like Fake Denario and Baileys Dream started the ball rolling and now Monkey King and Montecito have made Reid's colours some of the most feared in harness racing.
Reid also has one other major responsibility he didn't back in his amateur tipster days: now he is the man in the hotseat, having gone from trainer to trainer-driver.
So rather than put too much pressure on himself before what would be his biggest career driving success, Reid slightly tempers his comments heading into tomorrow's 4-year-old male section of the Jewels.
Monkey King will start a red-hot favourite and from barrier two looks the leader and winner.
That is a far cry from just a month ago when he was an $8 chance after running third in the Taylor Mile, at a stage when Divisive was rated the $1.60 favourite for tomorrow's race.
Since then key rivals Awesome Armbro and Tuherbs have pulled out, Monkey King has scored two stunning wins and most importantly he has drawn barrier two while Divisive will start from one on the second line.
Trainer-driver Reid admits the last month could not have gone better and for a second he slips back into his old ways.
"Really, I suppose he should win it," says Reid. "If I was not being biased and looking at it like a punter I'd say he was a good thing because he should lead and I don't see too many attackers.
But then the grown-up Reid returns.
"But I am not going to declare him a certainty before a big race."
The one certainty he does predict is if the track is fast Monkey King can break Pay Me Christian's 1:52.8 Australasian mile record.
"I think this horse is at least as good as Pay Me Christian and this track is very fast.
"I have no doubts he is in the right sort of form to pace 1:52 if he has to, but that isn't really the aim."
While Monkey King has thrilled Reid this week the popular horseman is just as pleased with Montecito, who is set to start second favourite in the 3-year-old male pace.
The rangy gelding is the last horse to beat Changeover and Reid says he would not be surprised to do so again, especially with the champ drawn one on the second line.
"This is not the same horse that Changeover beat so easily in the New Zealand Derby," offers Reid. "For some reason in the last two months he has taken the step to the next level.
"I think he is at least two or three lengths better than in the Derby and we will get our chance this week."
Montecito has crushed some class opponents at Addington in his last two starts and has the advantage of a front line, albeit wide, draw.
"My job is to stay in front of Changeover and Gotta Go Cullen, then we have a chance of beating them.
"I'd love to be able to get the lead but there is just enough speed inside us to maybe cause a problem, especially if Changeover is stalking us."
