KEY POINTS:
A second-line barrier draw for New Zealand Cup hero Changeover may have halted harness racing's clash of the year before it even got off the ground.
Trainer Geoff Small admits the stallion may miss tomorrow's $300,000 Woodlands Free-For-All at Addington after drawing awkwardly on the second line, while glamour pacer Auckland Reactor has drawn barrier five.
With a few scratchings possible - including Special Ops and Monkey King - Changeover's best possible scenario is getting to follow through arch-rival Gotta Go Cullen at the start of the feature.
But even if that eventuates, he still faces settling a long way off Auckland Reactor, who looks certain to run to the front soon after the start.
And Small says that makes the race very hard to win.
"I am keen to start but it might be a race where we can't win," he said last night.
"I am not saying he wouldn't start just because it is a big ask to win but if I am still undecided about how he recovered from the cup then it could be the final consideration.
"At this stage I'd say he is 50-50 to start."
Small says Changeover initially came through his record-smashing New Zealand Cup win in great style, eating everything put in front of him yesterday.
"And then he went out and tried to kick everything in the paddock.
"I'd say he has taken no harm from the race, which is remarkable when you think of the time they went."
Small also has to consider what comes next for Changeover, with tomorrow's race becoming less important if he decides to accept the invitation to the Miracle Mile in a fortnight.
That Sydney trip is also up in the air, with Small concerned he could not get Changeover back to Auckland for the Auckland Cup in March because of quarantine restrictions.
"We would like to go to the Miracle Mile but I don't want to be trapped over there until the Interdominions."
Whether Changeover starts or not tomorrow, Auckland Reactor is going to start a hot favourite in the group one sprint.
He was opened at a staggeringly short $1.30 by the TAB yesterday, while Changeover opened at $7.50. Gotta Go Cullen moved in from $16 to $12.
The bookies' fear of Auckland Reactor is understandable after the biggest fixed-odds bets in New Zealand harness racing history were placed on him on Tuesday.
One punter on track had $100,000 on him to win the minor free-for-all on Tuesday at $1.05, remarkably paying cash for the bet, rather than using a deposit slip or putting it on through an account.
And another phone bettor invested $50,000 on the unbeaten star at $1.10. Both punters finished with a profit of $5000.
Those wanting to get a more lucrative return from Auckland Reactor only have to look to Australia, where he is the second favourite for the Miracle Mile, which he is definitely going to contest.
He is rated the $5 second elect behind Blacks A Fake at $3 in early markets for the Sydney sprint.
Trainer Mark Purdon confirmed Auckland Reactor will make the trip to Sydney and he will also head to Melbourne to contest the A$375,000 Victoria Cup on December 20.
"He will race in both those and then we will see whether he comes back for the Auckland Cup or stays in Australia until the Interdominions."
