Flashing Red's chances of adding another group one cup to his already remarkable season are looking up.
The 9-year-old, already winner of the New Zealand-Auckland Cup double, cost punters on both sides of the Tasman a fortune when he was beaten in last Friday's A$200,000 ($227,000) Fremantle Cupin Perth.
While he was not aided by an early check and then being stuck three wide for the second half of the feature, driver Anthony Butt also said a long week of travelling may have left him slightly below his best.
"But he has bounced back really well," said Butt from Perth yesterday. "I am sure he will be a better horse this week and not having to start from 20m behind will help."
Flashing Red has drawn the front line in this week's A$250,000 West Australian Cup and his chances of victory received a huge boost when early favourite Be Good Johnny pulled out. Before his withdrawal Flashing Red was the $4.50 second favourite and soon moved in $3.80 but was out to $4 last night after a torrent of money for local up-and-comer Tealsby Karita.
The race will be screened live on Trackside just after midnight on Saturday morning.
* Champion 3-year-old Changeover will start a red hot favourite after drawing perfectly in barrier four for Friday night's $50,000 Flying Stakes at Addington.
The Woodlands Northern Derby winner could start as short as a $1.50, especially with second favourite Gotta Go Cullen drawn wide on the front line. The race is the final lead-up to next week's New Zealand Derby.
The meeting also features outstanding young trotter Houdini Star's first step into open class.
