KEY POINTS:
If you think Flashing Red was impressive winning the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday you should have seen him after the race.
While the Aussie veteran broke the hearts of our best pacers in the 3200m classic, it was his behaviour in the following 24 hours that left co-trainer Tim Butt stunned.
While most horses return from a group one staying race exhausted, Flashing Red wasn't even blowing when he returned to the stabling area and looked like he hadn't had a race by Wednesday morning.
"It is incredible to think a horse could do what he did and then bounce back so quickly," said Butt.
Which is an ominous warning for his rivals in today's $125,000 Free-For-All at Addington.
Most of the Cup field is back, with the exception of Mainland Banner, and with the race a lap shorter, and a mobile, there are a few drivers who fancy their chances of turning the tables on Flashing Red.
That confidence will be boosted by memories of a 1950m event at Addington last month in which Flashing Red showed no gate speed and then was flat-footed the whole way as Winforu sped to victory.
Butt says while Flashing Red may not be quite as potent over the shorter trip punters, and his rivals, should not be fooled into thinking last month's race is a true indication of his sprint ability.
"He is a different horse now. He is right in the zone and that has sharpened him up.
"And most importantly, I am sure there can't be many horses who have come through the cup as well as he has.
"So while he may not be a natural sprinter he could turn it into a staying race."
New driver John Hay should get the chance to do that as Flashing Red has drawn wide on the front line, from where he should be able to press forward and eventually get parked outside the leader.
That pacemaking role is expected to be taken by Winforu, whose trainer Geoff Small says he would like to see the stallion stay in front.
But that would not be a disaster for Flashing Red, as sitting parked he would control the tempo for the final lap of the race as well as deter any improvers from the back half of the field.
Under those circumstances he would have a good chance of outstaying Winforu.
Of course the race may not pan out that way but, regardless, Flashing Red is one of the few in the event who can make his own luck so is the one to beat.
Winforu has to rate as he loves sprint racing and is one of the few Kiwi open class pacers with any gate speed.
If he leads driver David Butcher has plenty of options.
Cobbity Classic was gutsy in the Cup and has the gate speed to go forward so looks good each way value, while Imagine That and Sly Flyin could be over the odds.
Imagine That will relish the return to mobile racing and trainer-driver Mark Purdon is so happy with her performances he is aiming her at next month's Victoria Cup. "With Winforu likely to head forward I would like to follow him across." Imagine That will be followed through by Sly Flyin, who was the unlucky runner in the Cup.
He got pushed back to last of the bunch at the top of the straight and if he can secure a good run through he can return to winning form.
The draws for defending champion Howard Bromac (1) and Baileys Dream (2) raise the possibilities of them getting soft runs close to the pace and they add to an interesting form puzzle.
Odds: $2.40 Flashing Red, $6 Winforu, $7 Sly Flyin, $8 Baileys Dream, $9 Cobbity Classic, $11 Howard Bromac, $16 Imagine That, $18. Tribute, $26 Mighty Cullen, $31 Waipawa Lad, Napoleon, $41 White Arrow.
