Chris Alford is the new driver for Smoken Up in the Ballarat Cup on Saturday night.
Greg Sugars, who drove Smoken Up to a last start win in the South Australian Cup, is committed to Sushi Sushi in the $A125,000 group one Ballarat Cup (2710m, mobile).
Lance Justice, the trainer and usual driver of Smoken Up, is on the sideline after breaking his legs in a race smash.
Smoken Up has drawn three on the second line and Sushi Sushi the outside of the front line, seven.
Pembrook Benny, who has drawn one, will be driven by trainer Barry Purdon.
Auckland Reactor has drawn the second line in the $A20,000 Pure Steel (2710m standing start) at Ballarat. Lets Slash An Burn is among his rivals. The Christian Cullen 7yr-old won the Hamilton Cup at his last start in a 2.00.6 mile rate from a stand. It was his 10th win since being sold to Australia in March 2010 by Russell Nieper, of Dunedin.
Lets Slash An Burn won eight races in New Zealand when trained by Jim Curtin.
• The Fiery Ginga has drawn two and is opposed by Vulcan (4) in the first of 2710m heats of the Interdominion trotting series at Ballarat on Saturday night.
Springbank Richard has drawn three against Sundons Gift (8) in the second heat. I Can Doosit (6) has Sovereignty (3) a rival in the third heat.
• Jolene Franco, an acceptor for the heat of the Sires' Stakes for 3yr-old fillies at Invercargill on Saturday, has been transferred to the Burnham stable of Mark Jones.
Owned by Glenferrie Farms, Jolene Franco was a first-up winner at Winton in December from three starts for Halswell trainer Steven McRae.
OK Courage has been scratched at the Forbury Park meeting tomorrow night. He is also an acceptor for Invercargill on Saturday.
