KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's two harness heroes are on a collision course.
And it is one which will double as a rescue mission for this country's wounded pacing pride.
Exceptional pacers Monkey King and Changeover are set to clash in the New Zealand Cup in November after their show-stealing wins in the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on Saturday.
While Monkey King dominated the 4-year-old male pacer from a good draw, Changeover had his supporters chewing their nails when locked up with just 400m to run before exploding through a gap to record the win of the day.
Their performances this season give New Zealand harness racing something it has lacked since Elsus retirement two years ago - pacers with the weaponry to beat Australia's best.
The New Zealand open class ranks have been at an all time low in the last two seasons, with only Mainland Banner and Sly Flyin possessing real class.
That has seen our usual stream of feature-race Australian wins dry up, with the final indignity coming when veteran Aussie journeyman Flashing Red thrashed our best in the New Zealand and Auckland Cups this season.
Now help has arrived and in Monkey King and Changeover we once again have two genuine pin-up pacers to draw crowds and deter the wave of Australian invaders who have been eyeing our riches after the paltry resistance of the last two years.
Monkey King's connections are so serious about the New Zealand Cup they will bypass August's A$200,000 ($225,000) Chariots Of Fire in Sydney to prepare.
While he did nothing more than expected to win on Saturday his talent has never been in doubt and trainer Steven Reid can look forward to next season with only one concern.
"When I bring him back into work I will spend a lot of time on his standing start manners," said Reid.
"But now I am driving him myself I think I will be able to spend enough time to get used to him and his little tricks.
"I think eventually the standing start manners won't be a problem."
While Monkey King has always been something special, in the past month he has developed gate speed and toughness to complement his electrifying pace and only bad luck - or Changeover - will stop him winning a cup next season.
While Reid is excited about the future on Saturday he was only relieved.
"I was nervous before the race because everybody expected to win, including us.
"But really he did it pretty easy," Reid said.
While he will sacrifice Australian winter ambitions to concentrate on the Cup, trainer Geoff Small believes Changeover may not have to.
The champion 3-year-old has developed immensely in the last six weeks and now resembles a streamlined version of his former stablemate Elsu.
Already he is capable of beating most of our open class pacers so Small is likely to tag the New Zealand Cup on to the end of a campaign which will include the Australasian Breeders Crown in August.
"Initially I thought you couldn't start in both but the way he is developing I think I can," said Small.
"He has strengthened up so much in the last six weeks and I think he can continue to develop while in work.
"So I can give him an easy time now until the Breeders Crown heat, race in the final series, then come home and set him for the Cup.
"Then he could have a spell and come back for the Auckland Cup and the 4-year-old races later next season.
"And if something goes wrong along the way we can pull the pin and start again."
Like Reid, Small's biggest concern looking at the New Zealand Cup is the standing start, although Changeover's manners are faultless and he should adapt quickly.
With nearly $800,000 in stakes already in the bank he is well on the way to becoming New Zealand's richest-ever pacer, a title held by Elsu with $2,083,352.
At the same stage of his career, Elsu had earned only $400,000.
And just as Elsu had Just An Excuse, Changeover is going to have Monkey King to lock horns with.
After two years of open class mediocrity, greatness is set to return next season.
