Racing: A former crock can upset the Elsu-Just An Excuse party tonight

Usually when Elsu and Just An Excuse clash it is a two-horse race.

At Alexandra Park tonight you can factor another superstar into that equation.

Because while 15 of the best pacers in New Zealand will start in the $250,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Trotting Cup most of them will be standing at the foot of a mountain they have already failed to conquer.

For all the talents of the front markers, many of whom are group one winners in their own right, when Elsu and Just An Excuse clash one of them almost always wins.

Almost.

The exception to that rule is Jack Cade, the only pacer to have beaten Elsu and Just An Excuse in the same race. The sole knight to have slayed the dual dragons of pacing.

Elsu and Just An Excuse have met seven times for three wins apiece, with Jack Cade the only other victor.

Some would say such history has no bearing on tonight's 3200m thriller and in a different type of race it may not.

But this is cup racing and in cup racing the cream most definitely rises to the top.

For example, Elsu and Just An Excuse have raced in three 3200m cups and quinelled them all.

The reasons are simple: the longer the distance the bigger the difference between a good horse and a great one. Particularly when the great ones are also great stayers, like Elsu and Just An Excuse.

Add to that their huge reputations and horses like Elsu and Just An Excuse intimidate their rivals out of the race. After all, if you were driving a horse like Howard Bromac or Blue Chip Rock wouldn't you be happy to hand the lead away to one of the big guns and receive the luxury passage to a fat placegetter's cheque.

That was the case at Addington last month when Elsu was handed the front in the New Zealand Cup without having to raise a sweat, only to be run down by Just An Excuse in one of the greatest performances in a decade.

And the same would be almost certain to happen again tonight but for Jack Cade, one of only two horses in the race good enough to take on the two champs.

The other is Mister D G, but he faces an uphill battle tonight, not being completely comfortable at Alexandra Park and with his standing start manners iffy at best.

If things went Mister D G's way he is good enough to stave off challenges from Elsu and Just An Excuse. Maybe.

But Jack Cade has already proved what he can do, having beaten both of them in the Ashburton Flying Stakes last year and separately since.

While Elsu and Just An Excuse have spent most of the last 13 months dividing the open class riches between them Jack Cade has spent it in a paddock nursing injuries and harness racing has been poorer for the lack of genuine opponents for the big two.

Jack showed he was back when he sat parked for the last lap to beat Elsu in the Summer Cup on this track eight nights ago and trainer-driver Mark Purdon is adamant the crock will be better for that run.

"Last week gave me the confidence he is back to his best, the confidence we can still beat horses like Elsu," said Purdon. "I worked him on Wednesday morning and he felt strong and definitely fitter than last week.

"I know he can foot it with Elsu and Just An Excuse, all we need is luck from the draw."

That draw, the inside of the second line, negates much of the advantage Jack Cade had in tonight's handicaps.

But he follows out a good beginner in Howard Bromac and if he makes his usual quick start he should settle in front of Elsu and Just An Excuse.

Then the two champs will have a real race on their hooves.

And for the first time in over a year, another horse of their own class to worry about.

* The race is live on Trackside at 9.34pm.