KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Cup favourite Mainland Banner will go into the race without another start after being a surprise omission from her final lead-up race this Friday.
The defending Cup champion did not accept for Friday night's open pace at Addington, even though trainer Robert Dunn had planned to start her there.
Dunn said Mainland Banner was tired after her stunning comeback at Ashburton last week and he thought next Wednesday's Cup trial was a better option.
"To throw her in against horses desperate for a cup berth ... could be detrimental to her cup preparation as she could face another gut buster," said Dunn.
"In the trial we can do as we please and keep her preparations on target."
Mainland Banner's tiredness is understandable as she produced one of harness racing's great comebacks when she narrowly went down to Flashing Red in an Ashburton Flying Stakes in which the national record was smashed by 2s.
That performance, and questions over some key rivals, has seen the glamour mare shorten from a market high of $4 to $2.40 for the New Zealand Cup.
But those taking such short odds now have the weight of history against them, with few pacers having won the cup with only one lead-up run, particularly off a 10m handicap.
Friday's race is the final open class feature before the Cup and the last chance for pacers such as Bobs Blue Boy to qualify.
* Brisbane trainer John McCarthy is to send Cobbity Classic to contest the NZ Cup on November 14, despite the horse only finishing fourth in the transtasman race at Albion Park on Saturday.
The race was won by American-bred pacer Sweet Fame.
Cobbity Classic is booked to fly to Auckland on November 7 and will head by horse float and ferry to Christchurch.
