His Riversdale trainer, Tony Stratford, was all set to line up the smart 5yr-old at the Hannon Memorial meeting at Oamaru next weekend until he spotted the c2-c5 mobile pace in the programmes for Winton tomorrow.
An attached condition allowed a c6 pacer into the race if driven by a concession junior driver, and Stratford has called in Matt Anderson to take the reins in a race that was not even on the radar a month ago.
"I only spotted that race about three weeks ago when I was sitting there one night going through the programmes," Stratford said.
"I had him pencilled in for heading to the Hannon first-up because that’s where he won last year first-up.
"I thought we would aim there and see where he’s at in the pecking order. But then I saw this and thought why not — it’s an hour from home, a mobile, he’s off the same marks [as his rivals] and the majority of ones he is racing are two-win [horses]."
Pulp Fiction has not raced since finishing seventh in Northern Southland Cup in March, but did win a workout at Gore last week, sprinting the last 400m in 27.4sec.
"He had a good break, he’s quite big in condition and has done really well," Stratford said.
"He’s certainly not screwed down for Sunday, but you’d like to think class will take him a fair way," he added.
The spring aim with Pulp Fiction is the junior free-for-all on New Zealand Cup day, and tomorrow’s run may dictate if the son of Art Major still has a crack at Oamaru next week.
"We’ll see what happens on Sunday but I’m not too worried about it now. Does he need to back up a week later? It will depend on how he comes through the run regardless of where he finishes."
Stratford expects the junior free-for-all — held on the same day as the New Zealand Cup — to be a real test, but one which Pulp Fiction is capable of handling.
"It will be a hot field. There are so many nice horses bubbling around under those topliners so it will be hard to win up there this year.
"But I still believe he is as good as most horses around — at least south of Rolleston, anyway."
Mucho Macho Man (race 7) is the clear best chance of Stratford’s other two runners on the day.
The 3yr-old was sent out favourite in a fresh state at Gore on August 21, but managed only fourth.
"He had a harder run than what I would have liked, hence he was found a bit wanting at the finish," Stratford said.
"But he’s come through that run very well and his work has been really good this week, so I think you’ll see a different horse on Sunday."
