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New Zealand's two best racehorses are set to put on a bonus show for fans at Addington tomorrow night.
Champion pacer Auckland Reactor and trotting hero Stig are surprise entries for $14,000 races at the Christchurch track as they prepare for the Auckland Cup carnival, which starts in nine days.
They were not expected to race until Auckland and respective trainers Mark Purdon (Auckland Reactor) and Paul Nairn (Stig) had differing reasons for changing their minds.
Purdon wanted to keep Auckland Reactor up to the mark, knowing he will meet potentially his toughest opposition of the season so far when he takes on Changeover and Monkey King in the $60,000 NZ Herald Free-For-All at Alexandra Park on Friday week.
"I was going to take him to the trials but I couldn't be sure he would get quality opposition there," said Purdon.
"This way I know he will have a decent blowout - and it fits into his programme for the big races ahead."
The race originally drew nine acceptors but Auckland Reactor is likely to face just six rivals, with two already scratched.
He is likely to start a $1.05 favourite and even against the likes of Mr Molly will carry almost all tickets in the $150,000 Pick6.
Safely through the race, Auckland Reactor will travel to Auckland on Sunday and have a public workout at Alexandra Park next Wednesday morning.
He will then race at Alexandra Park on Friday night before the rich Trillian Trust Auckland Cup a week later, for which he is the $1.50 favourite.
While Auckland Reactor is racing tomorrow night to get ready for Alexandra Park next week, Stig is racing because he will miss Friday week's northern meeting.
Trainer Paul Nairn says he will still bring Stig to Auckland for the Cup carnival but for a one-off race - the $40,000 IRT City Of Sails Trot on March 6.
"I only want to race him once at the Auckland Cup meeting so will bring him and a few stablemates up," said Nairn.
"But the trip is about getting him ready and used to Alexandra Park for his next big aim, the Rowe Cup [May 1].
"Because I am not going there for the race on Friday week he needed a run so that is why you will see him at Addington this week."
Stig has drawn the second line in a 2600m mobile trot, but like Auckland Reactor, will completely dominate betting on the race.
The appearance of the pair at Addington sets up an appetising weekend for harness racing fans. Some of the best young pacers in the country will take the limelight when the Auckland Trotting Club carnival opens at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
December 3-year-old stars at the Park, Stunin Cullen and Joyfuljoy, will resume their Auckland Cup week preparations at Friday's meeting.
Meanwhile, a frenzied bidding duel ended in the top lot on the second day of the yearling sales in Christchurch yesterday heading to Australia.
Clients of Sydney trainer Neil Day paid $150,000 for a Christian Cullen filly out of former outstanding filly Champagne Princess.
The filly was sold by training legend Jack Smolenski, who watched the sale from his wheelchair after suffering a stroke last year.
Her price was the highlight of a solid yet unspectacular day when prices in the mid-range were strong but few buyers were willing to approach the $100,000 ceiling.
That left the sales average down more than 12 per cent for the day but auctioneers PGG Wrightson were still more that satisfied after results at recent thoroughbred sales led many in the industry to predict a far bigger drop.
The details
Champions Auckland Reactor and Stig are surprise entries at Addington tomorrow night.
The glamour pair are preparing for the Auckland Cup carnival.
The third day of the annual yearling sales in Christchurch yesterday was solid.
The top price was $150,000 paid for a filly out of Champagne Princess.