KEY POINTS:
Gareth Dixon knows the bigger the stage the more luck you need.
Which is one reason he is heading into the weekend hopeful, more than confident, even though he has winning chances at three major venues.
The South Auckland trainer will head to Melbourne to oversee Chariots Of
Fire winner Ebony Gem's assault on the A$70,000 ($78,000) Kilmore Cup on Sunday.
But before then he will divide his attention between Atlas Alliance and St Barts in tough races at Alexandra Park and Addington respectively tonight.
"They are all good horses but all racing on tough fields so they will need luck," said Dixon.
"They are in races you wouldn't be surprised to see them winning but just as easily they could go huge races and finish third or fourth."
Atlas Alliance takes on an even field of class 3-year-olds in the Sires' Stakes heat at Alexandra Park tonight, a race Dixon wouldn't have dreamed of having him in a month ago.
"Back then I thought he would take more time but he has got better both starts," he says of his two unbeaten runs.
Atlas Alliance, who impressed winning at Alexandra Park last Friday, faces a wide draw in the heat, which is unusually over 2200m.
"The draw makes it hard but he keeps on improving and might surprise us again," said Dixon.
Aslan should start a warm favourite in the heat even though he cost punters a fortune when beaten at Cambridge last week. His driver Tony Herlihy thought Aslan struggled with the wet surface, so look for him to bounce back tonight in a race where Don'tmakemeangry, Eisenhower and He's My Hero also look chances.
It will be the highlight of the Auckland meeting, with Genius attempting to win for the seven start in a row in the main trot.
Dixon will then turn his attention south where St Barts takes on New Zealand Cup entrant Bettor's Strike in a strong intermediate grade sprint.
St Barts has been working his way back to his best this campaign after a long layoff and looks ideally placed tonight but beating Bettor's Star won't be easy. The latter is a rugged stayer and fine front runner.
"I think my fella [St Barts] is still on the way back to his best and he has a lot of racing in front of him but if he is sitting on Bettor's Delight's back that will suit me perfectly."
While Dixon admits Sunday's Kilmore Cup, over the 3075m, is hardly the perfect race for Ebony Gem he still thinks the 5-year-old can win - even from the outside of the second line.
"But he's going to need luck now," said Dixon.
"In those type of races in Australia once they settle they go pretty hard and it can be difficult to make ground from the back.
"So settling handy would have been great. Now we will be hoping for a hot pace.
"But we are happy with how he is working so he has a chance."
Fans of Interdominion hero Blacks A Fake can see the great champion race again tomorrow night when he starts a red-hot favourite despite an unfavourable draw (two on the second line) in the feature Trans Tasman Pacing Championship at Albion Park.
BUSY WEEKEND
* Trainer Gareth Dixon has horses racing at three major meetings this weekend.
* His star Ebony Gem faces a tough draw in Sunday's A$75,000 Kilmore Cup.
* He will also line-up Atlas Alliance and St Barts at Alexandra Park and Addington respectively tonight.
* Triple Interdominion champion Blacks A Fake races again in Brisbane tomorrow night.