Racing: Monkey King trained to the minute

Brendon Hill believes the biggest gamble of his training career has been proven right regardless of how Monkey King performs in tomorrow's New Zealand Cup at Addington.

The young trainer took an enormous risk by dodging the traditional cup lead-up, the Ashburton Flying Stakes, two weeks ago, even though all our other open-class pacing stars headed there.

In recent years, the Flying Stakes has been not only the best but, some would say, only serious, lead-up race to the cup.

But after a huge second in national record time a week earlier, Hill allowed Monkey King to miss Ashburton and is adamant he made the right call.

"Looking at him today I couldn't be happier," said Hill.

"He was just starting to lighten up after his Addington second and I think that Ashburton might have been too much.

"But he went a slasher in the cup trial last week, had a blow afterwards and is spot on.

"I think he can win the cup but if he doesn't it won't be because he wasn't fit enough."

It might be because of having to concede his rivals a start from the unruly.

Monkey King's barrier manners are better than they used to be, often helped by near walk-in starts, but even with a good beginning he is going to settle closer to last than first.

"I know he is going to be back but I think the speed will be on.

"And if it isn't I think he is tough enough to work forward and be put in the race.

"He is a 7-year-old now and this is his best chance, maybe his last chance, to win the cup."

Plenty of punters think so, too, with solid support for him yesterday moving him into $5 second favouritism.