By MICHAEL GUERIN
The only question mark hanging over Pic Me Pockets in the Franklin Cup was erased pretty quickly yesterday.
The speed machine has the trainer, driver, handicap and form to justify warm favouritism for tonight's Alexandra Park feature.
Yet there is often a question mark over a pacer tackling 3200m for the first time, especially at this level.
But not in Barry Purdon's mind.
The champion trainer is confident the extreme distance won't undo what has been a superb start to the season for Pic Me Pockets.
"He won the Messenger in a good time over 2700m last season so I don't think the 3200m will be a problem," said Purdon.
Pic Me Pockets has looked even better this season.
His latest win was a stunner as he came from last to nearly break one of the best national records in the books over 2200m mobile.
Since then he has been kept up to the mark with trials and workouts and looks ideally placed off the front line.
Driver Tony Herlihy and the other reinsmen on the front mark will be looking to stay handy early as they can expect the pace to go on when, if expected, Neil Brady finds the front with Sweet Talking Man at some stage.
The latter returned to something like his best with a game second at Alexandra Park last week and looks likely to try to turn tonight's event into a survival of the fittest.
And Purdon says that will suit Pic Me Pockets.
"I would like them to go hard because he has shown in races like the Messenger and in his last that he goes his best when the pace is on.
"His training has been tops this week and really I couldn't be happier with him."
While Purdon has a great record in the Franklin Cup the race will be anything but a cakewalk for Pic Me Pockets, with serious challengers in Pocket Me, Facta Non Verba, classy mare Flight South and Cool Hand Luke.
The latter is taking a massive step up in class and is still only a class five horse racing class seven and faster rivals.
But he has always appealed a serious stayer and thrashed his class four opponents here last week. Like Pic Me Pockets he should settle handy and would appreciate a hot pace.
Pocket Me is the first raider from the red-hot Tim Butt stable, which won seven races at the New Zealand Cup carnival.
Pocket Me has yet to win in nine starts at Alexandra Park yet driver Anthony Butt says that is not a concern.
"He actually races very well up there but hasn't had a lot of luck," said Butt.
"He is in the best form of his career and the way he won over 3200m at Addington last start I give him a good chance, although Pic Me Pockets is going to be tough."
Facta Non Verba easily won the Easter Cup over this trip in April but found the world record pace of the New Zealand Cup not to his liking.
He will be suited by being the sole backmarker - helping him step away safely - and by the small field tonight could be the value option.
The enigma of the race is Classic Turbo.
He has won his only start over 3200m and has looked an open class pacer most of his career, until a battling performance here last week.
"He blew hard after that race and I think he will improve with it, but this is also a shade harder," said driver Maurice McKendry.
The cup is the second leg of Pick Six and the first plays host to the long-awaited debut of Kinsman.
The 3-year-old has been burning up the training tracks for Steven Reid, who trained a treble here last week.
Kinsman is a son of leading stallion Holmes Hanover and speedster mare Lento and has been living up to his breeding in training.
He looks a Pick Six anchor.
The third leg on the Pick Six provides one the clashes of the night between Upanoff and Thunder Storm.
Upanoff returned with a brilliant win last week and looks stronger than last season.
But Thunder Storm has been unlucky lately and wasn't suited by drawing the ace last week.
The last leg provides punters with two main options in classy 3-y-os Sharp Response and Arainstorm, the latter having an advantage in the draws.
Racing: Cup perfect for Pic Me Pockets
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