KEY POINTS:
One thought comforts Ken Barron as he prepares to watch the biggest race of his training career from the grandstand - he couldn't ask for a better substitute.
Barron trains Mattnamara's Band, the likely favourite in tomorrow's $200,000 PGG Wrightson Sales Series Pace at Addington, and at any other stage of his career he would also be driving the juvenile.
But he has been forced from the sulky by hip replacement surgery three weeks ago, meaning his brother Clark will take the reins.
"It may not be ideal but if there is anybody I would trust the biggest race of my training career to it is Clark," admits Ken.
"He has always been a great driver and I often send him horses down south and he hops on them and wins first time up. He is a bloody good horseman."
Those skills and a handy draw make Mattnamara's Band the one to beat in the first real clash of the best from north and south.
Of the top freshman pacers only Ohoka Arizona is missing and Barron says that is all the confidence boost he needs.
"On what I have seen so far this season Ohoka Arizona and my fella are the best two juveniles in the country.
"He might even be better than us, who knows, but he isn't here this week so we get a real chance.
"While I have worked with some good horses he [Mattnamara's Band] would be the best I have trained myself."
Mattnamara's Band has stormed to two huge wins in the past six weeks before being a luckless third to Ohoka Arizona and Fiery Falcon in the Welcome Stakes when forced to race parked.
"I think we went every bit as good as the winner that night and I think the way the race may pan out on Saturday he can lead.
"He may not be a natural leader, because I think he is best following a solid speed, but I think that is where he will be best suited."
Barron also trains Defiance (barrier one) and Franco Tetris (five) and says they have the early speed to race handy. "But I'd expect either of them to hand up to Mattnamara's Band because he is a better horse."
He takes a line through the form of Franco Tetris in the north in suggesting a South Island-trained pacer will win tomorrow's event.
"He went up there and raced well against the best juveniles up there and Mattnamara's Band is clearly better than him."
Strike Up The Band looks the best of the northerners and as a professional little pacer has a good each-way chance from barrier four, whereas The Cavalier doesn't look so well placed from one on the second line.
The Mark Purdon-trained pair of Steve McQueen and Fiery Falcon are both good enough to win with some luck but their trainer probably would have preferred their draws were reversed.
