KEY POINTS:
Flashing Red's chances of adding another group one cup to his already remarkable season are looking up.
The 9-year-old, already winner of the New Zealand-Auckland Cup double, cost punters on both sides of the Tasman a fortune when he was beaten in last Friday's A$200,000 ($227,000) Fremantle Cup in Perth.
While he was not aided by an early check and then being stuck three wide for the second half of the feature, driver Anthony Butt also said a long week of travelling may have left him slightly below his best.
"But he has bounced back really well," said Butt from Perth yesterday. "I am sure he will be a better horse this week and not having to start from 20m behind will help."
Flashing Red has drawn the front line in this week's A$250,000 West Australian Cup and his chances of victory received a huge boost when early favourite Be Good Johnny pulled out. Before his withdrawal Flashing Red was the $4.50 second favourite and soon moved in $3.80 but was out to $4 last night after a torrent of money for local up-and-comer Tealsby Karita.
The race will be screened live on Trackside just after midnight on Saturday morning.
* Champion 3-year-old Changeover will start a red hot favourite after drawing perfectly in barrier four for Friday night's $50,000 Flying Stakes at Addington.
The Woodlands Northern Derby winner could start as short as a $1.50, especially with second favourite Gotta Go Cullen drawn wide on the front line. The race is the final lead-up to next week's New Zealand Derby.
The meeting also features outstanding young trotter Houdini Star's first step into open class.
