A horse with the Banner suffix trained by Graeme Anderson is almost certain to start favourite with leading driver Dexter Dunn in the sulky.
Last year it was Titan Banner doing the job for the Westwood Beach horseman, but this year the task of bringing home the chocolates for Anderson goes to Sovereign Banner.
There is one difference between the two pacers though.
Titan Banner had two standing starts before winning the Tuapeka Cup off 20m, but Sovereign Banner is an absolute novice behind the tapes.
And that is where Anderson’s main concern lies.
"Our problem is that we’ve never had a standing start at a trial, workout or anywhere," Anderson said.
"I’ve put him on the [10m] unruly just to help. He’s pretty laid-back so we’ll put some pins [hopple shorteners] in and hopefully he’ll be fine."
"The thing with him is that a lot of his races he’s been in front, and he’s a little bit dumb I suppose, so I’d like to have him slingshotting tomorrow if I could," he said.
"At the trials a couple of times, he’s come off the back [of other horses] and shown a lot of speed."
Sovereign Banner covered extra ground when running second to Robyn’s Bad Boy at Gore last weekend but Anderson said he had recovered well.
"He’s bright and bouncy and I haven’t done much with him this week. He seems good — he’s eating up and everything like that."
Expresso Martini starts off 30m in the cup as Anderson tries to find racing options for him.
"He’s as good as he’s been for a while, but there’s just no racing for that type of horse so we’ve got to go somwehere with him," he said.
"I’ve just finished working him and he’s bouncing and happy within himself.
"It’s a big task from back there on 30m and he hasn’t always been at his best from a stand, but he gets his chance."
Only bad luck of the variety that struck Eamon Maguire last week at Gore should stop the smart 3yr-old from winning the c1-c2 mobile pace.
Eamon Maguire broke a hopple during the last lap, yet still came back to almost down Better Ops.
"The front carrier broke so he was lucky not to fall over for a start and then he couldn’t quite get there, but in two more strides, he would have won again.
"He seems terrific so I would be very surprised if he got beaten."
Motu Time To Shine has been scratched after winning at Forbury Park on Thursday night, but Susies Desire (race 2) will back up from her second to Pembrook Ideal on Thursday.
"Hopefully, she should be too good from that draw after her run [on Thursday] night.
"She’s a nice filly, so with a bit of luck, we’ll get a few favours and she’ll be hard to beat."
