Northern pacer Mach Shard will start from barrier 2 in the group 1 feature, two spots inside Chase Auckland.
Trainer Barry Purdon was delighted when Mach Shard drew what he described as a perfect draw.
‘‘Barrier two looks ideal. You would take that every day of the week," Purdon told The New Zealand Herald.
‘‘He should be handy in the running line from there and he was very strong to the line last week. So, I think he has a real chance."
Mach Shard brings winning form into the Hunter Cup after winning the first start of his Australian campaign in the Casey Classic at Melton last weekend.
Chase Auckland comes into the 2760m feature after producing a booming finish to run third behind rival A G’s White Socks in the Ballarat Cup.
The All Stars pacer charged home from well off the speed to almost take second from stablemate Self Assured.
Drawing barrier 4 has meant Chase Auckland has move into favouritism for the Hunter Cup.
A G’s White Socks was the Hunter Cup favourite immediately after his Ballarat Cup win.
Having to contend with barrier 4 on the second row has meant the Greg and Nina Hope-trained pacer has drifted to sixth favourite.
Driver Greg Sugars told Harness Racing Victoria he was approaching his tricky draw with an open mind.
‘‘These races are always very hard to win no matter where you are [drawn].
‘‘Very happy with what the horse was able to do at Ballarat. He come off quite an interrupted preparation, the travel over and all that wasn't ideal for him leading in to Ballarat and he obviously performed quite well.”
A G’s White Socks has thrived since having more time to acclimatise in Victoria following is Ballarat Cup win
‘‘He seems to have settled in and trained on even better,” Sugars said.
"Obviously, we are going to need some good fortune, as always in these sort of races, but the horse is going to go into the race in tip top order."
Triple Eight gives New Zealand a three-pronged attack on the race.
The Steve Telfer-trained pacer was asked to do a huge amount of work mid-race when he was fourth behind Mach Shard last weekend.
Northern reinsman David Butcher will replace John Caldow on the 5yr-old tonight.
Oamaru trotter Majestic Man will have a new driver when he starts in tonight’s Great Southern Star.
Regular reinsman Brad Williamson opted to drive at Geraldine today, which meant former New Zealand driver Ross Payne was booked to drive the 5yr-old.
Majestic Man is not fancied in Australian markets for tonight’s group 1, being rated at $16 win odds.
Majestic Man is one of four New Zealand horses in the 2760m feature alongside Oscar Bonavena, Massive Metro and Temporale.
Temporale was a big winner of last weekend’s Dullard Cup at Melton.
The 7yr-old comprehensively beat the hyped Oscar Bonavena.
Co-trainer Mark Purdon said the trotter’s fitness was not where it needed to be and he expected better from the 4yr-old this week.
Former South Island squaregaiter and former Interdominion winner Tornado Valley is set to start favourite for the Great Southern Star after drawing barrier 3.
The Andy Gath-trained trotter ran a tenacious second in the Cochran Trotters Cup after losing ground at the start.
