KEY POINTS:
Steven Reid thinks he has two open-class pacers who can win at Alexandra Park tonight - even though only one of them is in an open-class race.
Reid will line up his stable stars Baileys Dream and Monkey King in the free-for-all pace and expects the former to be the one to beat.
But earlier in the night he will also produce Tennis Ball in race five, and while it is not an open-class race, Reid is adamant Tennis Ball is an open-class horse.
"This horse is the real deal," enthuses Reid. "I have been saying for a while I think he is an open-class horse in the making and to be honest I think he would be competitive in that grade now.
"Even though he meets a really good intermediate grade field this week I think he will give them a beating.
"He is that good."
Tennis Ball has won four of five starts and should be unbeaten, losing the other in the inquiry room.
He returned to racing with a strong win out of his class at Alexandra Park last Friday but that is only one reason Reid rates him an open-class horse in waiting.
"I worked him with Monkey King a few weeks ago and trust me, after what happened that day this fella is an open-class horse."
Tennis Ball does meet a powerful field in race five but with the ideal draw will still be a warm favourite.
Later in the night, Reid believes Baileys Dream should be too fit for Monkey King in the $25,000 free-for-all.
The pair are coming off vastly different lead-ups, Baileys Dream having been wonderful in the New Zealand and Franklin Cups, whereas Monkey King finished last in the Cup at Addington, suffering from a lung infection.
"Bailey is as good as he has ever been and has come through the last month really well," said Reid.
"I think he can go forward and try and lead this week and he could be too forward for Monkey who is working well but could be one run below his best."
Reid and new training partner Graeme Rogerson have a huge team from their two-stable operation involved tonight and he rates Sno's Big Boy in race nine as the stable's other top-rater for the night.
"He flew home last week after we got a little bit too far back," said Reid.
