Pacing's excitement machine Akuta could be about to embark on one of the most unusual New Zealand Cup campaigns in the history of the great race.
That could mean the young gun, good enough to sit parked to beat the open class pacers in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday, may revert to 3-year-old company for his next start before going back up against the big boys to prepare for the Cup at Addington on November 8.
Akuta overcame a tardy start and sitting parked for the last lap to outmuscle Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy in the Hannon, pacing his last 800m in 55.5 seconds even though he looked a touch pretty in condition.
It was impressive stuff for a horse still only rated a 3-year-old even though that is more an anomaly of the official birthday for harness horses being pushed back to New Year's Day, meaning Akuta would have been 4 by this stage of his life until the rule change last year.
But for now, he remains officially 3 and that gives trainer Mark Purdon the option to start him in the Lazarus Stakes for 3-year-olds at his next start, even though he is the second favourite for the New Zealand Cup.