KEY POINTS:
Sydney's loss will be Southland's gain after a dramatic change of plans for champion pacer Changeover.
The superstar was expected to chase his third classic of the season in the A$100,000 ($113,000) New South Derby later this month but will instead be heading to Southland for a two-race campaign.
The move comes after trainer Geoff Small could not get a direct flight from Christchurch, where Changeover has been for the last month, to Sydney.
Small was reluctant to travel Changeover by road to Auckland and then fly to Sydney, knowing he would have to make the return journey so the great pacer could race in the Harness Jewels series in June.
That left him with the most exciting horse in harness racing with no suitable race for six weeks.
But Small discovered an unexpected opportunity that will see him make a shock visit to Invercargill this Sunday.
Changeover will contest the paltry $8000 final heat of the Southern Supremacy Stakes because victory there will guarantee him a spot in the $50,000 group two final on April 28.
The move could prove a masterstroke on several levels.
Not only do the Southland races work in well as part of his Harness Jewels preparations but most of the big-name northern pacers who dominated the New Zealand Derby on March 30 have returned home.
Of the horses heading to Southland only fellow northerner St Barts and Rocket Reign would be any sort of threat to Changeover.
But winning the Southern Supremacy could also earn Changeover votes for the Horse of the Year award, for which he is battling Flashing Red. Not to mention Southland is home to a large number of standardbred breeders, who could well become Changeover fans after seeing him in the flesh, which can only enhance his stud career.
Small only came up with the Southland campaign over the weekend, meaning he had to step up Changeover's work.
"But he will be ready. He looks and feels very good," said Small.
Hosting New Zealand's star racehorse will be a dream result for Southland harness racing officials and fans, who never got to see the likes of Elsu, Lyell Creek or Courage Under Fire on their home soil.
While Southland has a proud harness racing history the last pacing champion to race there was Christian Cullen, who remarkably finished last in a seven-horse field as a 3-year-old.
With Changeover missing the New South Wales Derby he is now more likely to head to the Australasian Breeders Crown in August.
* The northern domination of Addington's Easter carnival was finally ended by Tuherbs on Saturday night.
The 4-year-old continued his steep improvement curve when he downed Likmesiah in the $100,000 Easter Cup run on a soaked track.
The win came courtesy of a brilliant Anthony Butt drive and means Tuherbs will come north for the rich Taylor Mile-Messenger double at Alexandra Park in three weeks, races which are shaping as the best of the domestic harness racing season.
Favourite Sly Flyin, who started from a 20m handicap, was an incredible fifth after being trapped wide for much of the last 2000m and still hitting the lead at the 200m before his exertions took their toll.
There was plenty for the northerners to smile about though as Gold Star and Jazmin Alicia quinellaed the $35,000 New Zealand Trotting Oaks, giving the winner's trainer, Dale Cameron, one of the biggest wins of his career.
