Racing: Pair need to prove merit for Aussie trip

Sno's Big Boy has recovered from standing on a shoe. Photo / Alan Gibson

Courage To Rule and Sno's Big Boy are on trial for much richer Australian assignments when they race at Alexandra Park tonight.

And while Sno's Big Boy would need a huge winning performance and then other cards to fall into place to be on a plane to Victoria this weekend, Courage To Rule is all but booked.

Courage To Rule's co-trainer John Green to keen to tackle the Victoria Derby with the multiple group one placegetter, his enthusiasm heightened by the withdrawal this week of his nemesis, Smiling Shard.

"I think the racing style over there will suit him and he has the gate speed so we are keen to go," said Green.

Courage To Rule will get the perfect opportunity to convince Green to book his flights in race eight tonight, the fourth leg of the $75,000 Pick6.

He has drawn ideally at two, looks the early leader and that should give him a race-winning advantage over some other handy 3-year-olds.

"We have been driving him more aggressively lately and that suits him, which is another reason I think the Victoria Derby is a good race for him."

The heats of the Victoria Derby are at Ballarat on Saturday week, the same night at the two heats of the Interdominion Trotting series.

Sno's Big Boy could be a late surprise entry into that series if he really impresses in race three tonight.

He missed his engagement at Cambridge last Friday after standing on a shoe in his paddock but has taken no real harm from that and co-trainer Steven Reid says the Interdom trip is a possibility, albeit unlikely.

"I was going to pull him out this week because he is probably not going but then I thought there was no need to do that until after he races," said Reid.

"If he happened to go super this week and then one of those two good Chris Lang trotters (Skvalley and Sundon's Gift) was out of the series we might still go.

"But it is unlikely at this stage."

Tonight's rare Thursday meeting at Alexandra Park brings together plenty of age group stars, including Australasian Breeders Crown winners Tintin In America (race seven) and Tuhimata Glass (race 10) as well as last season's best 3-year-old trotter Ima Gold Digger.

The latter will clash with Sno's Big Boy after recently being transferred to the Michelle Wallis stable.

After three brilliant wins this season Tintin In America should take tonight's pacing feature and looks the best Pick6 anchor.

Tuhimata Glass faces other promising 3-year-olds in the last race, a good early pointer to who has improved since their freshman seasons.