KEY POINTS:
Classic Cullen won the battle but Flashing Red is now favourite to win the war that will be the Auckland Trotting Cup.
That was the bottom line after a sizzling Klein City of Auckland Free-For-All at Alexandra Park last night, the final lead-up to next Friday's $400,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup.
The 2200m event was run in the second fastest time in New Zealand history, thanks first to some aggressive tactics from Flashing Red's driver Anthony Butt and then Mark Purdon on Classic Cullen.
The pair swapped the lead with a lap to go after Napoleon and Pay Me Christian burned early, making the race a survival of the fittest.
Surprisingly that was Classic Cullen, who edged his way past Flashing Red in the straight with Foreal storming into third.
The victory came as a pleasant surprise to Purdon, who was experiencing one of his best nights at Alexandra Park in the past two years after Steve McQueen made a winning debut in the $50,000 two-year-old race.
"It is great to get big wins back on the old home track, especially heading into the cup," said Purdon.
Before the race, Classic Cullen appeared to be on the cusp of making the Auckland Cup field and he even had to prove himself to Purdon.
"I was disappointed in him last start to be honest and I told the owners that maybe he wasn't as good in front," said Purdon.
"But tonight I think he actually appreciated the hot pace and he showed that he will take some beating in the cup."
Purdon was quick to voice his admiration, though, for Flashing Red, who was fighting back on the line.
"He was coming right back at us and he will be the one to beat next week."
Driver Butt agreed, thrilled with Flashing Red's performance after a torrid run.
"He will improve further with that and will love the extra distance next week so I wouldn't want to be on anything else."
Foreal suggested she is a genuine each-way chance with another gutsy performance while favourite Pay Me Christian was understandably found out by the incredible time in his first start in three months.
Also happy with his charge was Ricky May, who piloted the other glamour 4-year-old, Monkey King.
"I got a check with a lap to go and that didn't help but I thought he went very well."
That race saw Flashing Red shorten into $4.80 with the TAB for the Auckland Cup and he looks the one horse who won't be affected too greatly by tomorrow night's barrier draw.
Pay Me Christian was being kept solid at $4.80, with Monkey King out slightly to $6.50, ahead of Awesome Armbro at $8 and Waitfornoone at $9.
That market could change dramatically, though, when the barrier draw is made at Alexandra Park.
Purdon's double celebration started earlier in the night when McQueen downed favourite The Cavalier in the PGG Wrightson Graduate.
His win continued a remarkable start to this juvenile season for Purdon who has produced five individual winners and has Ohoka Arizona as the hot favourite in Wyndham today.
