By Michael Guerin
You know you have the prospect of a great race when it could be more captivating than the appearance of Courage Under Fire.
While the little equine explosion will be the horse most people go to see at today's Alexandra Park twilight meeting, his may not be the best race - and that is not meant to be disrespectful of the Great Northern Derby.
But an hour before the 3-year-olds divvy up the first classic of their season, another exceptional battle is on the cards.
The New Zealand Totting Hall Of Fame Pace could be a $20,000 look into the future.
Because among the young guns in the field are four or five pacers who could end up in next year's New Zealand and Auckland Cups without looking out of place.
The race has been targeted by trainers, drawing some of the most promising intermediate graders from both islands.
The northern defence will be led by two horses who only seem to know how to win - Homin Hosed and Yulestar, while the south will provide Derby-placed London
Pride and rugged stayer Good Mate.
The latter is the horse who has got closest to beating Christian Cullen in the last year, having run him to a nose when the great horse resumed racing in August. He might have had a huge headstart but a nose is a lot closer than most horses get to Christian Cullen.
Good Mate earned his start in tonight's second leg of Pick Six with a gutsy come-back win at Rangiora last start but even his trainer, John Versteeg, must be stunned by the class of opposition he will meet tonight.
Both Homin Hosed and Yulestar have been at the top of the shopping list for big-spending Australian buyers this season.
The connections of the pair have turned down serious money and so far you could not argue they have pulled the wrong rein.
Homin Hosed is the baby of the pair, having just 12 starts under his belt, but what he lacks in experience he makes up for in heart.
The Brian MacEy-trained gelding was good enough to run Holmes D G close two months ago and seems to have improved.
"He can still do things wrong but that is probably through a lack of concentration rather than bad manners," driver Todd Mitchell said.
"He is getting better with racing and he feels like he should make it to open class because he doesn't know how to stop."
But for all his ability, Homin Hosed has more than just his hotshot rivals to worry about today.
He is not the quickest from a standing start, which could see him settle worse than midfield.
And his little lapses in concentration seem to get worse when he races during the day.
Three starts ago he was a most impressive winner of the Sires Stakes Final for 4-year-olds but only after he had tried to chuck the race away by throwing his head around and genrally acting like a drongo.
"He is a bit worse during the day because he can see the crowd and everything else at the track," Mitchell said .
He was better when winning during the day at New Plymouth last start but he wouldn't want to make too many little mistakes in this company.
And if Homin Hosed does get silly, Yulestar has the motor to punish him.
The pride of Taranaki harness racing - okay, that is hardly a great honour - has being courageous in his last two wins.
Like Homin Hosed he dose not make things easy on himself but has the benefit of having inherited the ability of his brilliant dam, Victoria Star.
He outstayed southern up-and-comer Freeway Don at the New Zealand Cup carnival and did a power of work to win over 2200m here last start.
That was the most comfortable he has looked on the Alexandra Park track which is not ideally suited to his loping stride.
His draw will not help today but if he manages to get in front of Homin Hosed and the other favourites at any stage then they are in trouble.
If the two northern stayers wage a war with each other or Good Mate, then London Pride is the most likely benefactor.
The runty gelding has produced some electric sprints when saved for one run and after some early season hiccups from a stand he is now a good enough beginner to quickly make up much of his 30m handicap.
Trainer Cran Dalgety is happy with the son of sire sensation In The Pocket and he is dropping back in class after taking on the guns in the Summer Cup.
"A lot is going to depend on how the race is run but if he can get the right sort of trip he can finish over the top of them," said Dalgety.
"But it is a very hot field and you could see a few of these ending up in Cup class."
Horse Racing: Favourite definitely not Homin Hosed
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