Trainer Mark Purdon and the owners of Auckland Reactor have decided to bypass the New Zealand Cup and stay with their original programme of a junior free-for-all on Cup day and the New Zealand FFA three days later.
Auckland Reactor main-tained his unbeaten record in 12 starts when he resumed after a six-month break at Ashburton on Monday. He was timed to run his last 800m in a brilliant 53.5 and 400 in 24.8.
Purdon spoke yesterday with John Curtin, the Auckland manager of the syndicate which paid $4 million for Auckland Reactor after he had won his previous start at Invercargill in April. There are 11 members in the syndicate from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Purdon and Curtin viewed a tough 3200m in the Cup November 11 as a risk at this stage of his 4yr-old campaign.
"He hasn't got it quite right from a stand and it would have meant three hard standing-start races in a short time taking in Ashburton, the Kaikoura Cup and the New Zealand Cup", Purdon said.
"You can't give the very best horses too big a start after breaking from a stand.
"I am pleased with the way he has come through his Ashburton race which I thought might have knocked him."
Auckland Reactor will seek an invitation to the Miracle Mile at Harold Park on November 28. The $375,000 Victoria Cup (mobile start) at Moonee Valley on December 13 is also an option.
Changeover has regained NZ Cup favouritism with the TAB at $2.50, ahead of Monkey King at $5.
Purdon and co-trainer Grant Payne have Eric's Legend, Joyfuljoy, Millwood Nebraska, Asset Rich, Almost A Christian and Sleepy Tripp entered at Addington on Friday night.
The All Stars stable at Rolleston has won 12 races in eight days from October 19.
