KEY POINTS:
Mi Muchacho is on trial at Cambridge tonight for the biggest race of his career - but that doesn't mean he is expected to win.
The wonderful grey pacer faces a horror 60m backmark in the Te Awamutu Cup and trainer Richard Anderson believes his pride and joy is not ready to overcome that sort of handicap.
"I will be surprised if he wins," says Anderson.
Anderson is using the race as a trial for the $750,000 New Zealand Cup in November, but not from a race performance point of view.
He is far more interested in how Mi Muchacho handles the left-handed track.
Mi Muchacho has an awesome record on the right-handed Alexandra Park circuit but has struggled on left-handed tracks, especially Addington.
With few left-handed opportunities for open class pacers in the north before the New Zealand Cup, Anderson wanted to give Mi Muchacho an outing that way round tonight.
"I want to see how he handles it under race night pressure to see whether it is worth pressing on toward the New Zealand Cup.
"If he paces well tonight then the New Zealand Cup is still a chance."
Mi Muchacho has been troubled by foot problems since his astounding win in the Auckland Cup last year, when he downed Mainland Banner in his first start for three months.
Anderson says those problem flared up against 10 days ago and have robbed him of some crucial work.
"He is a bit fatter than usual and that is why I think he will struggle."
That opens the race up to the front markers, headed by impressive triallist Stoney Creek, along with High Flyin.
