KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red's season is in tatters after failing a blood test that saw him sensationally scratched from the second round of Interdominion heats.
The veteran pacer's TCO2 levels were tested four times on Wednesday and when his levels breached the 36 millimoles per litre of blood allowed, he was withdrawn from his heat.
That left trainer Stu Hunter stunned.
"I did treat him with some salts and saline drench a couple of times this week to help him rehydrate after his race and travelling but I can't understand how he would be over the bicarbonate level," said Hunter.
"I know this might look bad to people but I have travelled all over Australasia with this horse for three years and never had any problems."
The positive test mean Flashing Red cannot contest his final round heat and is out of the series, for which he was the $3.50 second favourite last week.
Favouritism still sits with defending champion Blacks A Fake, whose chances were boosted on two fronts on Wednesday night. First, he produced a fine second after a hard run in the track record heat won by Be Good Johnny and then he drew perfectly to win his final heat on Saturday night.
New Zealand looks certain to have two pacing finalists, with both Winforu and Tribute as good as in the A$500,000 ($560,000) feature onJanuary 13.
Tribute's stablemate Foreal, though, is in a far trickier position after galloping early in her heat on Wednesday and having to stage a remarkable recovery to even finish seventh.
That not only leaves her outside the top 10 likely to make the final but she is also out of the draw for the final round of heats.
She will start from the outside of the front line in Blacks A Fake's heat and will need to finish top three to make the final. But she looks well capable of doing that.
If she does make the final she will trial in front of stewards on Sunday morning in an effort to convince them to allow her back into the main barrier draw for the final.
