By MICHAEL GUERIN
At first glance it looked like just another four-horse trial.
But in reality the main pace at Pukekohe on Sunday could be one of the most telling pointers to the feature races of the autumn.
The big three in the 2500m mobile pace were Classic Turbo, Hawera and Mike's Pal. While none is assessed above class six, all are capable of winning a group one before the end of this campaign.
Classic Turbo won the heat after coming off Hawera's back to grab her by a nose, with one and a half lengths to Mike's Pal, the last 800m in a snappy 57.5 seconds.
But it will be the last time the trio clash this season as they have greatly different goals in the months ahead.
Classic Turbo starts his second campaign at Cambridge on Thursday night, up against the best 4-year-olds the north has to offer in the $26,000 Cambridge Classic.
"He will be a lot better for the trial but to beat Hawera is a nice effort," said trainer John MacQuibban.
The winner of four of his five starts, Classic Turbo is taking a giant leap in class in Thursday and MacQuibban says the 2200m feature will determine his pride and joy's future.
"This is our chance to see how good he is, to see where he goes from here."
A strong run on Thursday will confirm a tilt at the Taylor Mile-Messenger double.
Classic Turbo has the advantage of the best draw of the hotshots on Thursday but will be missing regular reinsman Tony Herlihy, who will stick with Pic Me Pockets.
That has catapulted another former world champion in Maurice McKendry into the sulky of the gelding beaten only once in five starts and at the centre of plenty of buyer interest.
"There have been some big offers for him but I don't want to sell him," said MacQuibban.
While Classic Turbo takes his first steps towards a serious payday on Thursday, Hawera has to wait until next week.
She will contest the Mares Championship and Breeders Stakes double at Addington, starting March 10.
"After that I will leave her in Canterbury for the Easter Cup because she should get in to that off the front," said Purdon.
"She has really developed this season and can hold her sprint for a long way. I think she should be in for a big campaign."
The mare's ranks lack real class, with Interdom failure Under Cover Lover the best mare in New Zealand. That means Hawera could be the right mare in the right place at the right time.
That same tag sits just as easily on Mike's Pal.
He was only third in Sunday's trial but was not asked for his best effort and resumes in a handy 3-year-old at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The latest star from the Reid breeding dynasty has looked a potential Derby winner in his short career and could not have picked a better year to be a class 3-year-old.
While Stars And Stripes followed his Great Northern Derby with victory in the Victoria Derby the rest of the Kiwi 3-year-old crop is only average, a lull after two years of unbelievable 3-year-old feats performed by Christian Cullen, Holmes D G and then Courage Under Fire.
Mike's Pal does not have Stars And Stripes' speed but looks a shade tougher and has returned from a 10-day spell even better that when sweeping all before him over the holiday period.
He has two suitable races at Alexandra Park in March before heading south for New Zealand Derby and don't be surprised to see him bag one of the remaining classics this season.
Racing: Pukekohe pace future pointer
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