Maurice McKendry, the Pukekohe horseman, will make a rare visit to Methven tomorrow to drive Zenad in the Methven Cup.
McKendry has the engagement with a view to driving Zenad in the $1.2 million New Zealand Cup on November 11.
Zenad is a member of the Patumahoe stable of Geoff Small, who also has Changeover and Awesome Armbro in the NZ Cup.
David Butcher, who has driven Zenad in 10 of his 13 wins, including the New Brighton Cup two starts back, will remain with Changeover.
His brother, Phillip, has the drive on Awesome Armbro.
The New Brighton Cup was from a mobile start.
Zenad tangled and lost his chance from a standing start at Addington last week.
Zenad is off 20m at Methven.
The last three winners of the Methven Cup have started from 20m.
Zenad won the Tauranga Cup (2500m) on grass at Gate Pa in January.
McKendry drove Tyler Foulden to win the 1997 Methven Cup for Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid, who won the race last year with Baileys Dream.
Ricky May, who drove Baileys Dream, has the drive on Artishake tomorrow.
Special Ops, who shares the back mark of 30m with Nick Off Holme, has won on grass at Methven and Waimate.
She has been placed in two of her three starts since a fresh up win at Addington on August 29.
Leading reinsman Dexter Dunn has the drive on Majhac Meddle.
His brother, John, who drove Majhac Meddle to win at Addington last week, is driving Rocket Reign, a winner on grass.
• Tony Cahill had his first win as a trainer when Nimitz returning a gritty front-running performance at Addington last night.
Cahill was granted a licence this season.
He shares the ownership of Nimitz with his partner Yvonne Warnaar.
They also bred and race Navy Cross, the runner-up to Nimitz.
The horses are brothers being by Courage Under Fire from Westloch, a Double Century mare they bought eight years ago.
Nimitz had his other win at Addington 14 months ago when trained by Paul Walkinshaw.
Navy Cross is trained by Cran Dalgety.
"Navy Cross had a few problems and needed a professional trainer," Cahill said.
Cahill is the night foal watchman for Nevele R Stud, Prebbleton, the owner of Courage Under Fire, who is now at the Stallion Station in Melbourne.
Cahill works between September and January.
"The foals are slow arriving this season," Cahill said.
• So and So, who was having his third start since being trained by his West Melton part-owner Derek Jones, won last night.
He was driven by Colin De Filippi, who trained and drove the gelding to win at Ashburton and Kaikoura in 2005 and 06.
So And So subsequently won two races when trained by Allan and Lee Georgeson.
So and So had his previous win in January.
• Trainer Paul Nairn had a notable training feat when he produced Stig to win the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup in his first race for 10 months last night.
Stig, who had been away from racing with a fractured sesamoid, was being driven for the first time by David Butt.
Nairn and Butt combined to win the feature with Call Me Now in 1994 and Above The Stars in 1995.
Nairn trained and drove Call You Later to win the race in 2003.
