Racing: Star trotter well placed

There isn't usually much to like about starting off a 40m handicap in the best race of the night.

However, trainer Derek Balle sees a silver living to that cloud hanging over Galleons Sunset at Alexandra Park tonight.

Galleons Sunset will share the backmark with Genius in the Greenlane Cup, the last serious open-class trot of the season.

Being so far behind the front-line horses could well rob Galleons Sunset of the chance to use one of his most potent weapons, his ability to "scream" away from a standing start and rush to the lead.

He used that - rather unconventionally - in a similar field last Friday when he made his usual flying start from a 30m handicap, galloped after 400m, settled quickly and still surged forward to lead almost throughout.

After that performance, Balle is adamant Galleons Sunset is racing as well as when he won the Interdominion at Moonee Valley last season but said he would still love to see the speedster add another string to his bow.

"I think he can be just as good coming with one run, rather than leading all the time," said Balle.

"And to win big races like the Dominion or the Rowe Cup next season he has to be driven off the speed at some stage.

"This week is our best chance to try that because even if he makes his usual fast beginning I don't think he will make it to the lead so he might have to go forward then take a sit."

So can Galleons Sunset move twice in a race and still win?

"I think so. He is stronger now than he has ever been and more relaxed," said Balle.

Galleons Sunset deserves to start favourite tonight after beating most of his rivals so easily, even after galloping, last Friday.

But one rival he didn't conquer last week is Our Sunny Whiz and she looms as the danger.

Last season's Rowe Cup winner has yet to win a race this year and has raced lengths below her best on occasions.

She signalled a return to competitive form with a second off 45m in the mares' trot last Friday and if she gets the run to suit tonight she can win.

Cornishman is racing in the best form of his long career and looks the next-best winning chance.

But spare a thought for his fellow veteran Genius, who shares the 40m backmark with Galleons Sunset.

Genius has never won a decent open class race, with most of his wins in the past two years being as a claimer or in weaker fields than tonight.

Yet he is handicapped on the same mark as an Interdominion champion and behind a Rowe Cup winner.

Both trainer Michelle Wallis and driver Todd MacFarlane have been perplexed by his handicaps recently and it is hard to argue with them.

While the trot is the feature of the night, one of the other stars could be trainer Brent Mangos.

He could train two winners, with Franco Endure the horse to beat in the handicap pace and 2-year-old trotter Tuhimata Glass guaranteed a walkover win in his non-tote Australasian Breeders Crown heat.

Franco Endure won well in a similar field to tonight's three starts ago and will find this a huge drop in class from taking on Auckland Reactor in the Jewels last start.

GREENLANE CUP

* The $25,000 Greenlane Cup is one of the last listed harness races of the season.

* Former Interdominion winner Galleons Sunset faces a 40m handicap.

* He overcame an early gallop to win last Friday.

* Brent Mangos looks one trainer set to have a good night.