KEY POINTS:
The Auckland Trotting Cup is a huge step closer to becoming New Zealand's premier harness race.
The great race was officially changed yesterday from its traditional 3200m standing start to a 2700m mobile, in a move which is certain to boost the quality of the event.
While the move will shock some traditionalists it is the biggest step yet down the ATC's road to become New Zealand's first club to hold mobile start only racing.
"That is where we see the Auckland Trotting Club heading and that is one reason we want our best race to be a 2700m mobile," said ATC vice president Rod Croon.
"We believe the race will be a better spectacle and attract a better field as a 2700m mobile."
The Cup had been held as a 3200m standing start in late December in recent years until it moved to March last season, meaning there were two Auckland Cups last season.
The date change made the move to a mobile cup all the more sensible.
By moving to March the Cup becomes a far more realistic target for four-year-old pacers, the greatest source of new blood to the open class scene.
Their trainers are far more likely to target a shorter mobile race than a 3200m standing start, particularly as many four-year-olds have had only minor standing start experience.
"That was one factor, particularly this season as we would love to have glamour four-year-olds like Pay Me Christian and Monkey King in the race," said Croon.
"But there were plenty of other factors that make changing the conditions the best move.
"The Auckland Cup is our flagship race and we don't want our customers coming here to see a big name horse and see it gallop from a stand and lose all chance."
The move should appeal to the connections of big-named pacers like Mainland Banner, Flashing Red and Mi Muchacho, all of whom would have started off a 10m handicap under the old cup format.
It will also aid open class stars like Sly Flyin, Baileys Dream and Imagine That, who can be unpredictable from a standing start.
The change should also appeal to Australian trainers, most of whom dislike 3200m standing start races.
"We are keen to have at least one top Australian pacer here for all our major races, especially the cup."
Detractors of the move suggest the mobile start could see a dominant pacer draw well and stifle betting on the race.
But if, as is the plan, the race attracts the best field of the season, then even an in-form Mainland Banner would struggle to completely dominate betting if she was clashing with Pay Me Christian, Monkey King, Sly Flyin, Slipnslide, Mi Muchacho and Baileys Dream.
With the likelihood of the race attracting class four-year-olds and Australian talent, the new Cup looks likely to become New Zealand's strongest harness race of the year.
While it will struggle to take over from the New Zealand Cup as the country's most important harness race, it should develop into being the most high class.
"We realise the New Zealand Cup is to harness racing here what the Melbourne Cup is to Australian galloping," said Croon.
"We accept that and we want to make the Auckland Cup the Cox Plate of harness racing, instead of being a poor second relation like the Brisbane Cup, for example."
This season's Cup, at $400,000, will be the richest open class free-for-all in Australasia outside of the Interdominion Final and could even challenge that race in the future.
"This is a move toward the future and we are happy to make it now."
The changes to the Auckland Cup are the most radical of a series of changes and stake increases made in recent months.
Not only have they greatly boosted stakes for races like the Rowe Cup, National Trot, Great Northern Derby and Oaks but they have changed the dates for the Derby and Oaks.
The Woodlands Northern Derby has moved to March while the Oaks will now be held on April 13, the ATC settling on that date so it would not clash with the Derby or the Southland Oaks later in April.
