It is the last-chance saloon for several of New Zealand's junior drivers - including the reigning champion - in the New Zealand junior drivers' championship at Addington tonight.
Of the 12 drivers who qualified for the championship, through points earned in junior driver races, six are bidding farewell to the junior ranks at the end of the month.
Among the six coming to the end of their time is Zac Butcher.
Butcher (22) had a season to remember in 2011-12, reining home 115 winners including group 1 victories on both sides of the Tasman with Cheer The Lady.
But the cherry on top was his win in last year's junior drivers' championship.
''I had a pretty good season all round.
''I couldn't have asked for much more, really, and the champs finished it off - the perfect end to the perfect season, I guess,'' Butcher said.
Cheer The Lady provided Butcher with his first group 1 title when she downed Twist And Twirl in the New Zealand Oaks, and backed that up with a win in the Breeders Crown 3yr-old fillies' final in Melbourne in August.
''It was a big thrill to go over there and win one of their big races.''
Matthew Williamson's century of wins in the junior driver ranks may have put Butcher in the shade slightly this season, but he has far exceeded his own expectations for the season with 81 wins to date.
''Not many juniors can win 80 [in a season],'' he said.
''A lot of people have got carried away saying I'm not going as good, but I'm up to 81 winners.
''My goal was 65 at the start of the season, so I've reached that.''
Butcher's combination with his boss, Barry Purdon, reached another peak this season when he steered Maxim a win in 2yr-old sires stakes final ahead of stablemate Sky Major, before settling for second behind the same horse in the 2yr-old male pacing final of the Harness Jewels.
''He was the kind of horse who came up and kept getting better and better and to win a big one was bloody good.''
The junior drivers' championship, held over three heats tonight, often comes down to luck, and the fields appear to be quite even across the board.
Butcher has a handy drive behind Charlie Kaos in the first heat and Belmont Fire is in form in the third heat, but his second heat drive Gino D'Acampo could be his strongest chance based on the reputation of trainer Brendon ''Benny'' Hill.
''It's raced in handy enough fields and he hasn't got a great draw, but when you're driving for guys like Benny, you're a little confident.
''When you get to those competitions, if you don't get the good drives, you can't win.''
Three other North Island juniors - Josh Dickie, Roydon Downey and Simon Lawson - also have their last chance at supremacy in the junior ranks, while Mitchell Kerr and Matthew Williamson also bid farewell to the junior grade at the end of the season.
Andre Poutama and Roydon Downey will both miss drives in the first heat, due to only 10 horses accepting for the race, but they will be given 7 points each under the conditions of the series.
A fixed odds market for the championship will open at 9am this morning.
Southerners' tips
Jack Trainor
Best drive: Anvil Gav - heat 2 (race 4).
''It went good when it got clear late at Forbury Park and has won over the distance before.''
Brad Williamson
Best drive: Flyin Ryan - heat 2 (race 4)
''It's in form, and it's an even field.
Matthew Williamson
Best drive: No Potato - heat 1 (race 2)
''It's got ability when it puts its mind to it. It'll be a good chance on a good day.'
Rory McIlwrick
Best drive: Tiana Franco - heat 2 (race 6)
''She is well placed in the field and should be a good show.''
