Classie Brigade has won a Hannon Memorial that was more interesting for who wasn't there than who was, and that week of weirdness has opened up the market for the New Zealand Trotting Cup.
Classie Brigade did what he usually does in yesterday's 2600m feature at Oamaru — stepped fast,led and rolled along quickly enough to deter any challenges to win easily.
Judging by yesterday's win in similar fashion to last season's Kaikoura Cup, Classie Brigade is tracking at about the same level, albeit with seven weeks to go to the iconic race at Addington on November 10.
Classie Brigade won the Kaikoura Cup last year. Photo / Supplied
What isn't so certain is the road both long-time favourite Self Assured and last season's runner-up Spankem are taking to the Cup after they were scratched from yesterday's race.
Co-trainer Mark Purdon says the pair have slightly damaged hooves after their training track got too hard and that the pair will be right for the next Addington open-class race on Friday week.
"This won't affect their Cup campaigns at all," says Purdon.
But after being the Cup favourite all spring, Self Assured has been replaced by Copy That, who races at Alexandra Park this Friday.
With several other Cup contenders having doubts hanging over their heads, the road to the great race looks to have more turns in it than usual this spring.
