Auckland Reactor won his heat at the Addington trials yesterday despite losing 75m after an early break.
The 5yr-old, having his first trial of the season, galloped away from 20m and settled last behind his Mark Purdon and Grant Payne stablemates Highview Tommy and Fiery Falcon and Absolute Magic in the 2600m trial.
He caught the others with a lap to run and came four wide on the home turn. He outfinished the three others to beat Highview Tommy by half a length. The heat was run in 3.17.1, (a 2.02 mile rate), the last 800m in 56.1.
Auckland Reactor was timed to run his last 800m in 55.1 and 400m in 26.1. He has the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10 on his agenda.
The Miracle Mile at Menangle Park and a campaign in America are also on his schedule.
Auckland Reactor is the early favourite at $3.50 for the New Zealand Trotting Cup in the TAB futures betting market released yesterday.
The Queensland pacer Blacks A Fake is second favourite at $6 along with Mr Feelgood.
Changeover, who won the Cup last year, is at $7 and Monkey King at $9.
The market: $3.50 Auckland Reactor; $6.00 Blacks A Fake, Mr Feelgood; $7.00 Changeover; $9.00 Monkey King; $10.00 Kiwi Ingenuity; $13 Karloo Mick; remainder $13 or more.
Results of the Addington trials:Weather, overcast; track, fast.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2600m: Fairground R Alfeld 1; Indian Affair 2; VC Robyn 3. Eight started. 3/4L; 1/2L. Time, 3.26.9 (eight qualified). Trainer, R Alfeld.
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2000m: Courage On FireThe White House 2; Eastwood Christina 3. Four started. 2L; hd. Time, 2.34.2 (four qualified). Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
Two-yr-old pacers, 0w, mobile, 2000m: Casino Royale J Stables 1; Good Girl Gone Bad 2. Two started. 12L. Time, 2.38.7. Trainer, J Stables.
0w pacers, mobile, 2000m: Turn Up The Wick M Tapper 1; Cullens Party 2; Ultimate Class 3. Six started. 1 3/4L; nk. Time, 2.36.1. Trainer, M Tapper.
0-2w pacers, mobile, 2000m: Hannah C D Thornley 1; Steph's Caesar 2; Wonderful Tonight 3. Six started. 1/2L; 1L. Time, 2.33.2. Trainer, J Douglas.
0w trotters, 2600m: Bosworth C De Filippi 1; League Of Nations 2; Biorthday Gamble 3. 24L; 7L. Time, 3.31.6. Trainer, B Hamilton.
0w pacers, 2600m: Mached Out G Smith 1; Te Kinga Boy 2; Eliza Griffiths 3. Six started. 1L; 3L. Time, 3.27.1. Trainer, P Burrows.
1-5w trotters, 2600m: Royal Loch fr D Dunn 1; Solar Flash 20 2; Stylish Monarch 20 3. Four started. Nk; 3L.Time, 3.32.6. Trainer, S Hale.
4w+ pacers, 2600m: Auckland Reactor 20 M Purdon 1; Highview Tommy fr 2; Fiery Falcon 10 3. Four started.1/2L; ns. Time, 3.17.1. Trainers, M Purdon and G Payne.
