KEY POINTS:
Trainer Geoff Small has been granted some breathing space ahead of the busiest week of his season.
The champion South Auckland horseman is preparing three winning chances in the two features races at the Auckland Trotting Club's carnival, starting with the $200,000 Woodlands Northern Derby on Friday night.
Small has possible favourite Changeover in the Derby while he is now likely to have both Winforu and Awesome Armbro in the $400,000 Auckland Trotting Club on Friday week.
While Winforu was always going to contest the great race, Small only decided yesterday to press ahead with Awesome Armbro.
The exciting 4-year-old suggested he won't be out of his depth in the cup when he ran an unlucky second to Napoleon in his open class debut at Alexandra Park last Friday night.
After beating New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red in that race Awesome Armbro moved into $7 in the fixed odds market for the cup, with Small saying he is almost certain to start.
"We had to think about it because he is only a 4-year-old and had come a long way over the summer," said Small.
"But at this stage it is a goer and we can always drive him cold so he doesn't have to try and tough it out with those older horses."
With that superstar trio and a host of other pacers aimed at the premier meeting Small will be happy not to have to deal with the distraction of two inquiries being conducted by Harness Racing New Zealand.
The first is into the caffeine found in swabs taken from Changeover and Winforu on New Zealand Cup day, when Changeover won the Sires' Stakes Final.
The owners of Changeover have asked for a DNA test to be conducted and until that is completed at Massey University the hearing of charges has been delayed.
The second hearing relates to Small's drive behind Pocket Baileyship in the Sales Series Pace at Alexandra Park on December 31, a race won by Changeover.
Small has been charged with three offences which were to have been heard yesterday.
But the JCA has adjourned the hearing until March 20 at the request of Small's legal counsel, Barry Hart.
HRNZ objected to the adjournment.
While Awesome Armbro looks to have earned his way into the Auckland Cup, Classic Cullen also looks set to get a start after Australian pacer Reba Rajah pulled out yesterday.
The Kilmore Cup winner was expected to make the trip as late as Monday but his second in the Geelong Cup on Saturday night was not strong enough to justify making the trip.
While losing an Australian pacer with group one-winning form this season from any New Zealand race would usually be considered a blow it may be a blessing for the ATC.
With Reba Rajah not racing up to his best form, he may have struggled to make the 13-horse field for the cup.