KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's most exciting pacer could be on a hiding to nothing at Alexandra Park tonight.
And that has trainer Steven Reid advising punters to adopt a very cautious approach with Monkey King in the Franklin Cup Prelude.
The $25,000 event will provide last season's Great Northern Derby winner with the toughest test of his career as he faces a 10m handicap and some hardened open class performers.
While he would be good enough to overcome those sort of disadvantages in peak form, Reid says Monkey King won't be anywhere near that level tonight.
Reid and owner Robert Famularo have maintained a conservative approach with Monkey King this season, realising his main aims are still in the future.
"We have about five races later in the season which are the really big ones," admits Reid.
"Races like the Taylor Mile, Messenger, Harness Jewels, Chariots Of Fire and maybe even the Auckland Cup.
"And we also have the Kumeu Stakes and Franklin Cup this month so we have been taking things pretty quietly with him.
"When I worked him last Saturday I realised he was a fair bit below his peak and he proved that at the workouts on Tuesday."
Monkey King finished second to Powerball in a slowly run 2600m workout at Pukekohe on Tuesday, reaffirming Reid's opinion he can't be at his peak tonight.
Because of that he will ask driver Todd Mitchell to take the short cuts with the explosive pacer.
"I think with what we have coming up and his fitness levels Toddy is better off looking for luck with him this week.
"He is so good maybe he can still win cutting the corners and getting a gap and if he does that I'll be out of my tree happy.
"But if he does it and finds the line well just in behind them then I will be just as happy.
"I think it is important the punters are aware of that though."
Even with that warning Monkey King is likely to start favourite, especially after four dynamic winning performances this season.
He is already being touted as a future open class star but his major problem tonight is he will be below peak while clashing with horses already established in open class.
Three of them, Waitfornoone, Napoleon and Badlands Bute, have been chasing home Sly Flyin and Baileys Dream so far this season so come in well off the same 10m handicap as Monkey King.
Waitfornoone would have been at Addington for the New Zealand Cup had her connections been more confident she would handle the left-handed track, but could be in for a big month of compensation.
While her standing start manners are still suspect she would only need a safe opening 200m tonight to be the horse to beat.
Badlands Bute is just as unpredictable from a standing start and will not be helped by drawing one off the 10m, forcing him into a claustrophobic situation.
But if he does get away he has an edge in class and race fitness on most of his rivals so would represent good each-way value.
Tonight's race sees the return of two of last season's better 4-year-olds in Mr Bojangles and Mr Williams.
Mr Bojangles raced well below his best earlier this season and has had a short break from trainer-driver Maurice McKendry but comes in well off the front tonight.
He is usually good from a standing start and while he cannot be at his peak this does look a good race for him.
Mr Williams is potentially an even better horse, with trainer-driver Brent Mangos confident he can measure up to the absolute best this season.
"I think he proved that with his placing behind Mainland Banner in the big 4-year-old races here last season," said Mangos.
Mr Williams won at the workouts last week and while he will benefit from tonight's race he is bound to have his supporters as he has always been a punter's favourite.
* Reid has scrapped plans to tackle the Victoria Cup with Baileys Dream.
He returned to winning form at Addington last Friday, gaining compensation for luckless runs in the New Zealand Cup and Free-For-All.
"We thought about the Victoria Cup but only briefly," said Reid.
"At the moment I think he is better staying here for the Franklin Cup [December 31] and then maybe we can look at the Hunter Cup in February before the Auckland Cup in March."
