KEY POINTS:
A late change of plans will see Monkey King try to right his standing start woes at Forbury Park tonight.
The exceptional 4-year-old will have his first standing start since blowing three on end at the start of the summer, when he contests the $30,000 Dunedin Casino Championship.
After Monkey King developed the standing start jitters in December trainer Steven Reid declared he was unlikely to ask him to contest another this season.
But that plan was changed on Tuesday night.
"We looked at the race and realised if he stepped away he was clearly the horse to beat," said Reid.
"And the further south you go the more the standing starts become like walk up starts, which should help him."
Monkey King was to go to the trials this week as his next step on his Auckland Cup campaign but will instead use tonight's race to get ready.
"For that reason he will be a bit below his absolute peak but it shouldn't matter because he is racing so well."
If Monkey King steps away safely he should win as his 20m handicap is not overly daunting in the small field.
Reid has similar fitness doubts over Montecito, who he will drive in the best race at Alexandra Park tonight.
The three-year-old announced himself back to his best when beating Changeover at Cambridge last month but has done little hard work since, being allowed to cruise his last 2400m in 3:10 when winning at the Pukekohe workouts last week.
"He is close to the mark but obviously we are aiming him at the Derby series coming up so he has a bit of improvement in him," said Reid.
"I'd like to be able to give him an easy time early in the race and then put him in it later.
"But by the same token I want him to go well because I want to keep his reputation intact heading into the Derby."
