A trial resembling a mini–New Zealand Cup tomorrow should tell northern trainer Brent Mangos where South Coast Arden is at on the road to the great race.
The IRT NZ Cup at Addington is less than seven weeks away and for all the heroics of pacers like Copy That, Akuta and Alta Wiseguy so far this spring, many of the biggest names in the industry meet in a simple trial at Rangiora.
It contains the meat of the NZ Cup field with Self Assured, Spankem, South Coast Arden, Stylish Memphis, former Jewels winner B D Joe and one of last season's biggest improvers Cranbourne.
Most are using today to prepare for their comeback races at Addington on Friday week and they include the really big guns: last season alone they won the Auckland Cup and The Race by Grins (Self Assured), the NZ Free-For-All (South Coast Arden) and the Taylor Mile (Spankem).
Self Assured and Spankem already pleased trainer Mark Purdon with their first trial back last week but South Coast Arden missed his first scheduled public workout because of rain so trainer-driver Mangos says today will give him a good gauge on where he stands and what is needed next.