A strong performance at Cambridge tonight could promote Cyclone Chief to being the dark horse of the Kiwi assault on the Breeders Crown.
The rest of the team for the A$1.5 million raceday at Melton on August 30 are already in Victoria, with superstar pacers, like Waikiki Beach and TheOrange Agent, racing in semifinals at Ballarat on Saturday night.
Cyclone Chief needs to please trainer-driver Todd MacFarlane in a $7000 trot tonight to book his ticket.
The leggy 3-year-old would revert to racing in the 2-year-old series should he head to Australia and his win against older trotters at Alexandra Park last Friday suggests that as long as handles tonight's conditions the trip would be worthwhile.
"The reason he is in this race is because the conditions are similar to what he would race over at Melton, a mobile start, left-handed," said MacFarlane yesterday.
"I think he can win this week because he is a good young horse but even if he got beaten but still went well then we would look at going."
MacFarlane's interest in the Breeders Crown has been boosted because the young trotters are now split by sex, meaning Cyclone Chief wouldn't have to race classy fillies High Gait and Missandei, with fellow Kiwi trotter Conon Bridge the male division favourite. "Not having to take on those fillies would be a huge help, so we are keen to go at this stage but Thursday night will tell us a lot more."
Cyclone Chief steps up from maidens last Friday and meets some handy older trotters again, including class three and four rivals.
His greatest danger could be the talented but erratic Isa Smiling, who has shown a huge motor at Alexandra Park. She starts from the unruly though, so faces a difficult task.
The main pace sees the usual mixed bunch from these type of meetings infused with a bit of class from the likes of Vibhuti and Ideal Flybye, with one of that pair likely to win with a peak performance.
Meanwhile, The Orange Agent and Waikiki Beach have been the big winners out of the draws for the Kiwis in the Breeders Crown semis on Saturday night, both drawing the front line and set to dominate in their Victorian debuts.
Our Classical Art has also drawn to win but Harness Jewels star Dream About Me faces the biggest test of her career, drawing the second line in her juvenile pacing semi in which Australia's best filly Heavens Trend has drawn the ace.
Follow The Stars has drawn barrier two, just inside his Victoria Derby conqueror Menin Gate in their 3-year-old semi, in what looks the race of the night.
