Racing: Powerball needs to prove himself again

For the first two cup carnivals of the harness racing season Powerball was one of the buzz horses - this time around he is sneaking in through the back door.

The high-class pacer resumes his career in the feature race at the Alexandra Park twilight meeting today, away from the glamour of Cup night on Friday.

The class three and faster event is a far cry from Addington during cup week, where Powerball was so awesome in November or even from the premier nights of Auckland Cup week in December, when his season started to derail.

Back then Powerball was being touted as an open class horse in the making.

Now he has to prove himself all over again.

After a string of wins the five-year-old went two shockers at the December carnival, costing punters a fortune, but trainer-driver Barry Purdon says it may not have been Powerball's fault.

"I think everything just caught up with him," said Purdon.

"He had 18 months away from the racetrack with injury and then came back so well he ended up racing four weeks in a row.

"He looked good winning then but I think he got tired, especially with the travelling to Addington.

"And premier racing is hard, even at that grade."

Powerball was given time to freshen up and has only had the one workout this campaign, not being asked to extend himself too much behind Alta Serena in a workout at Alexandra Park last Tuesday.

"He did what I wanted him to do and this is a good starting point for his new campaign, far better than going straight into a premier race.

"He is still a bit on the big side and will improve a lot with this but he has to be hard to beat."

Punters will be hoping so as Powerball is likely to be around $1.60 on the tote and the fixed odds.

His main opposition today should come from Ohoka Qtee and Be Jay's Atom, both good stayers, although the latter faces a big task from her 20m backmark.

Purdon's other representative today, Aboycalledsu, also raced in far loftier company during the last Auckland Cup carnival, finishing eighth in the Great Northern Derby.

He faces far easier opposition in race six today but must overcome barrier seven, with favoured rivals Royal Seal and Super Max drawn inside him.

"He will be a chance but might need a bit of luck from out there," said Purdon.

One of the other highlights on today's low-key programme will be the return of last season's outstanding juvenile trotting filly Kathy Galleon in race nine, in which she faces a tricky field.

* Purdon was happy with the barrier three drawn yesterday for his Auckland Cup runner Napoleon.

Napoleon will start from the same position he stepped from when he finished third to Howard Bromac and Alta Serena in December's cup.

"That suits him fine because he steps well and that will give us options," said Purdon.

"I was happy enough with his run last Friday and I think he has a chance this week."