KEY POINTS:
If Divisive is going to beat Monkey King in the $150,000 Messenger Pace he is going to have to do it the hard way.
That is the vow of trainer-driver Steven Reid as he eyes the pivotal race of the 4-year-old season at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
Reid has spent the last two months frustrated by bad luck and poor draws which have cost Monkey King his chance in races like the Auckland Cup and last Friday's Taylor Mile.
The Taylor was won in crushing fashion by Australian superstar Divisive, who will dominate betting on the Messenger.
Monkey King finished a luckless third.
Reid was as impressed as anybody by Divisive last Friday but says he is still beatable.
"He is a great horse but so is Monkey and this week we get the chance to show it," said Reid.
"We have had terrible draws for ages but on Friday from barrier three he can be put in the race right from the start."
Monkey King has been at his most potent when saved for one run off a hot pace but Reid says he is mature enough now to race at the other end of the field and intends doing that in Friday's 2700m group one.
"I have been waiting to get a good draw with him to show people he can lead and that is what we will do this week.
"I am sure he can cross the two horses inside him and I won't be handing up to Divisive.
"If I don't he probably won't be pressured and we might struggle to run him down so I intend to stay in front and if he is good enough to come from behind and beat us then so be it."
The last time Monkey King raced close to the pace was in a free-for-all at Addington in February and he outsprinted subsequent Auckland Cup runner-up Classic Cullen.
Reid's expected tactics could at least swing punters and bookies alike to thinking Divisive is vulnerable on Friday, whereas if he was likely to roll straight to the front the race looked as good as over.
The race is also crucial to the remaining feature races this season, most importantly the $200,000 Harness Jewels.
If Divisive simply strolls to victory on Friday he may intimidate his way to an easy Jewels win, but if Monkey King can beat him then the Jewels will look a far more open contest.
One rival neither horse will have to worry about again is Pay Me Christian, who was scratched from the Messenger yesterday.
He was also officially withdrawn from the markets for the Jewels in June, suggesting he has been retired to stud as suggested in yesterday's Herald.
Pay Me Christian, the Australasian mile race record holder, will now head back to Canterbury for a fertility test after his disastrous autumn campaign.
Meanwhile, Scott Phelan will partner Power Of Tara in the Messenger, with Tony Herlihy committed to his own stable runner, Ambro The Thug.
Herlihy drove Power Of Tara to an impressive second to Divisive last Friday.
Monkey business
* Trainer Steven Reid is not conceding the $150,000 Messenger to Aussie star Divisive.
* Reid says his exceptional pacer Monkey King can lead throughout in Friday's group one event.
* Pay Me Christian was scratched from the Messenger yesterday.
