A step backwards for open class pacing star A G's White Socks may be coming at the right time at Addington tonight because of a change to the way standing starts are conducted at the track.
A G's White Socks continued his hate-hate relationship with standing starts in the first open class pacing race of the season at Addington last Friday, missing the start so badly he lost his winning chance. His recovery for fourth suggested with a safe beginning he would have won.
The indiscretion has convinced co-trainer Greg Hope to place A G's White Socks on the unruly for tonight's $30,000 Cup, meaning he could again be giving last Friday's winner Classie Brigade a big start. But Hope says being in the field soon after the start is better than chasing it.
He believes putting A G's White Socks on the unruly makes even more sense as Addington starter Ricky Donnelly has told stewards and drivers he intends to make horses stand before letting standing start races begin, rather than walk up to the tapes and begin.
Standing starts have been hit or miss in terms of quality for years in Canterbury and the issue came to a head in an embarrassing start to last season's New Zealand Cup where the horses drawn wide were moving at pace before the tapes were released while favourite Copy That, drawn the ace, was left standing and enormously disadvantaged.