Ken Barron is planning a change of strategy in the war for 3-year-old pacing supremacy.
The Mid-Canterbury horseman openly admits he is crazy about his superstar colt Stars And Stripes, who will make his Alexandra Park debut tomorrow night.
And he also knows they face a hell of a battle with northern star Cool Hand Luke.
Stars And Stripes has won their only clash - last start at Addington - but Cool hand Luke was just as impressive running second after an early gallop.
Just three days before Stars And Stripes had applied for the job of best 3-year-old in the country with a gutsy win in the Sires' Stakes Final.
Barron says while Stars And Stripes ruled at Addington he will face a tougher time tomorrow night and when the 3-year-old gets really serious in the Great Northern Derby on December 23.
"I think the title of best 3-year-old is still up for grabs and I have the horse to get it," said Barron.
"He faces a hard race this week because he isn't quiet as good right-handed but we have made a small gear change to help with that.
"But it will also be his first race since having 10 days off after the Cup meeting.
"I am not using that as an excuse because he is a natural athlete but it means I will drive him differently."
Barron rose to the top of the drivers' ranks the hard way - working his drives hard and turning races into a survival of the fittest.
But tomorrow night he would like to use the speed that he says makes Stars And Stripes the fastest horse he has driven.
"I can't think of one I have driven who is faster than him and I would like to get a cart up and try and use that sprint.
"But we still have the Derby and the Sales Series Pace to go so I think there will be improvement in him after tomorrow night."
Barron's case will be helped greatly by Cool Hand Luke's tricky barrier draw which could see driver Mark Purdon battling to get off the markers early.
Throw in perennial big-race placegetter London Express, recent six-figure purchase Mighty Khan and Aussie Seelster Sam and the race is indicative of a night when punters could be rewarded with $4 or $5 favourites in most races.
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Mac De Stroyer is about 20m away from an Auckland Cup start.
The north's best 4-year-old has risen from class two to superstar status this season but trainer-driver Todd MacFarlane didn't have the Cup on his agenda - until he suffered his first defeat of the season.
MacFarlane was so impressed by Mac De Stroyer's second in the Franklin Cup he says a sound performance at Alexandra Park tomorrow night will cement a Cup start.
"He bobbled away and lost 30m in the Franklin Cup but went huge for second and showed he can mix it with the open class horses."
But first Mac De Stroyer has to get tomorrow night's start right.
"His problem is he is too competitive," says MacFarlane.
"When the tapes fly he just wants to get going and he doesn't really care what gait he is in. But it is only the first 20m that are the problem. If he gets the first 20m right then we will be right in it."
The Auckland Cup has been kind to 4-year-olds - Kate's First and Christian Cullen in the last two season - so their could be some value in the $8 for Mac De Stroyer when betting on the Cup opens today.
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Noopy Kiosk is in a bad mood and that has put trainer Dave Gibbons in a good mood.
The former Aussie has been plagued by a virus that ruined his last campaign and kept him out of the New Zealand Cup carnival.
That was a cruel blow for Gibbons who produced one of the training feats of the year to take Noopy Kiosk from battling in Victorian country races to an Interdominion placegetter in just over two months.
That was back in the bad old days when Noopy Kiosk would rip your hand off given the chance.
"When he came back in the winter I thought he had just grown up and calmed down," said Gibbons.
"But we detected later that he had a virus which was why he wasn't being himself."
Now Noopy is being himself and the trotting form is returning.
"He went well at the workouts last Saturday," said Gibbons.
"He had an early gallop but then trotted well and feels like he is getting back to his Interdom form."
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The will he-won't he Christian Cullen story took an unexpected turn yesterday.
The champ was expected to race at the Cup carnival until two weeks ago when trainer Brian O'Meara declared it was unlikely.
But he will definitely be on the Christchurch-Auckland flight today.
"He will be in Auckland over the carnival so we might look at one of the free-for-alls on December 23," O'Meara said yesterday.
Racing: Change of tactics in 3-y-o war
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