KEY POINTS:
Steven Reid may be full of confidence after dominating last week's Easter Cup but that doesn't extend to the return of Montecito at Cambridge tonight.
Reid's best pacers, Monkey King and Baileys Dream, have downed the southern stars at Addington over the last fortnight and the third of
his big guns, Montecito, is now ready to resume with the 4-year-old feature events in mind.
But while he races horses well below the class of his usual opponents in the Morrinsville Cup, Reid warns punters not to take short odds about Montecito.
"I think he will struggle to win," admits Reid, who trains and will drive the gelding tonight.
"It it tough to win any race at Cambridge off a 40m handicap - let alone when you are fresh and the horses you are racing are a lot fitter.
"While he is good enough to win, I don't think he will - especially because I want to drive him cold and that is always a hard way to win at Cambridge."
Reid says the $11,000 race is more about getting Montecito fit for next week's clash with Changeover and Gotta Go Cullen, which will be followed by the Taylor Mile and Messenger at Alexandra Park and rich Harness Jewels back at Cambridge.
"He has some big races coming up and ideally I wanted to race him last week," explains Reid. "But that race didn't go ahead so I need to start him this week and I am determined not to give him a hard run.
"I won't be the first driver taking off mid-race," he warned.
Montecito looked an open class force in the making through October and November last year but his form dropped away over the summer months as a series of problems slowed him down.
"Physically he is fine and I am very happy with where he is at," said Reid.
"But I would want to be because he has to take on some very good horses in the next two months."
The concerns over Montecito are matched by standing start worries for key rivals Running On Faith (10m) and Days Of Courage (50m) tonight, so the race has the potential to be very tricky for punters.
Reid rates his best chance of the night as talented Ohoka Moon (race seven), although she would need a hot early pace as she is racing without a lot of spring in her stride at the moment.
"I also have Avant Garde in race four but he galloped last start so my first priority with him is getting around safely." The meeting hosts a $100,000 Pick6, starting earlier than usual on race four.