A shock driving change has left Australian driver Chris Alford in the hottest seat at Alexandra Park tonight.
The record-breaking Victorian reinsman will partner Hero, the favourite for the $120,000 Sales Series Final, after regular reinsman Kevin Townley was dumped.
Townley has been instrumental in the education of Hero, helping guide the youngster from a precocious speedster to a genuine big race contender not only tonight but in the Derbys that lie ahead for him this season.
Hero was recently sold to Australian owners and will soon join the same Victorian stable as Great Northern Derby runner-up Franco Heir.
Tonight's move is obviously looking toward Hero's future in Australia but it is hard not to feel for Townley, who will watch the race from the drivers' room.
Alford is looking forward to his first racenight drive behind Hero and they should suit each other as Alford is an aggressive driver who likes to dictate races and that is how Hero has performed best in the past.
After an average first-up effort in the Golden Mile two weeks ago Hero produced something like his best form when flying into fourth behind Taihape Tickler and Franco Heir last start.
That indicated his fitness has improved and he was allowed to bypass last Friday night's Great Northern Derby to concentrate on this race.
As the second best juvenile in New Zealand last season he showed gate speed and the high cruising speed associated with the best stock of In The Pocket and those attributes would appear perfect for tonight's contest.
Hero should lead from barrier one and there are not too many capable of softening him up in the middle stages.
If he was to get an easy time in front he would prove almost impossible to run down.
But he will has to see off his arch-rival of last season and Great Northern Derby upsetter Matai Mackenzie.
The horses with an army of owners made the most of a perfect passing lane passage to win the Derby and that field was stronger than this.
At his best he is probably a more complete racehorse than Hero but may not have the speed to cross him out of the gate and the richest races at this carnival have confirmed the importance of being on the markers in the big time at Alexandra Park.
If Hero does get stirred up or challenged early though, Matai Mackenzie is clearly the danger as he may still be on the way up after trainer Barry Purdon gave him a slow build-up to this season.
Outside the two favourites the Mark Purdon pair of Rare Gem and Perfect Seelster would appear the only other serious winning hopes, with Falcon Strike a roughie for trifectas as he is drawn to follow the favourite.
If Matai Mackenzie does repeat his Derby success then it should be the first leg of a feature race double for Barry Purdon as he has Holmes D G in the second leg.
The scratching of Yulestar has virtually gifted the $75,000 City Of Auckland F-F-A to Holmes D G.
The Grand Circuit champion has led and won the last two Miracle Miles from this draw and the same tactics are likely to be employed with the same result tonight.
Purdon is thrilled with the way Holmes D G has come through his tough Auckland Cup effort and it is hard to see how his opponents will beat him tonight.
The night's other feature sees the first major juvenile clash of the season in the $30,000 Cardigan Bay Stakes.
Southern raider Royal Batchelor is the only pacer in the field to have raced before, recording a win in doing so, and looks set to get the perfect trip tonight.
He will follow out northern trials star Rhonite Rock, who has been pacing sensational times at the trials and more recently in a non-tote race at Cambridge.
On that occasion he easily accounted for Jack Cade and with the ace draw tonight driver Neil Brady will be looking to lead and stay there.
Racing: Alford gets chance to be punters' hero
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