His trainer, Phil Williamson, has been left wondering what happened after the tough stayer somehow injured himself in a box last week, leading to his scratching from the feature trot at Forbury Park last Sunday.
''He went into the box sound and came out of the box in the morning lame,'' Williamson said.
''We've had the vet to him and he's said there's nothing majorly wrong. What he actually did, we'll never know, but he obviously hurt himself in the box somehow. It was a pretty frustrating situation, I can tell you.''
Alley Way had been working his way back to full fitness before the setback. He had recorded seconds to Bordeaux then Sunny Ruby at Addington, and Williamson was very pleased with the step up he made each time.
''Up until then, I was rapt and things were looking good, but we'll just have to see what happens over the next few days whether we keep progressing happily or not.''
The knock meant Alley Way missed five days of work and Williamson will make the call early next week whether to take the son of Monarchy to the ''Cup'' trials at Addington next Wednesday.
''The intention is to go to the Cup trials, all being well ... so that will be our D-day whether we're pressing on or not.
''If we don't make that, we won't be.''
The 8yr-old is fourth on the Dominion rankings, immediately below the three automatic qualifiers Monbet, Amaretto Sun and Sunny Ruby.
Alley Way marked himself as a promising stayer last season when trained by part-owner Neville Skinner. After finishing third in the 2015 Rowe Cup, he finished second in the New Zealand trotting free-for-all on New Zealand Cup day later that year before repeating that placing in the Dominion three days later.
Williamson's other Dominion hopeful, Monty Python, is still sweating on withdrawals, or a move up the rankings to make the Dominion field. He is ranked 18, with the top 15 getting a start on November 11.
He was outgunned by Golden Gate in the same feature trot at Forbury Park that Alley Way missed, but still finished second to follow up on three thirds and a fifth since resuming at Oamaru in August.
''He'll race if he gets in - it's as simple as that. The owners are keen to go if he gets a start.''
Monty Python will also head to the Addington trials next week before being set for a c4 and faster handicap trot on November 8 ahead of the Dominion three days later.
