Craig Thornley is to drive the Cran Dalgety-trained About Ambition in the Marlborough Cup Prelude at Waterlea on Friday.
Stable driver Dexter Dunn, who drove the 4yr-old to a first-up win at Ashburton on June 7, is down to drive in the first five races at Waterlea before leaving to travel to Auckland where he has several drives on Friday night.
Thornley won a trial behind the 4yr-old at Ashburton on June 2.
Thornley (37) has driven a personal best 56 winners this season and is eighth in the drivers' premiership.
Many of his wins have come from the stable of Steven McRae.
Dunn will be back to drive About Ambition in the $15,000 Marlborough Cup (3200m) on Sunday.
Band On The Run, who has not raced for seven months, was to have resumed in the Cup Prelude but Dalgety said he was not race-hardened enough to be competitive in the prelude and the Marlborough Cup on Sunday.
Band On The Run was treated for a stomach ailment after he was pulled up at his last start on New Zealand Cup day.
The 4yr-old son of Christian Cullen and Let It Be has recorded eight wins and a second from 13 starts.
He finished sixth behind About Ambition at the Ashburton trials on June 2.
He won a workout at Motukarara last Saturday.
"About Ambition was very good winning his last start and he is more race-hardened than Band On The Run, who is just not quite fit enough to cope with the two tough races at Blenheim in three days," Dalgety said last night.
Dexter Dunn has the drive behind Nicky's Passion in the $100,000 Yearling Sales Pace for 2yr-olds at Alexandra Park.
Dunn has driven the Phil Anderson-trained Peruvian Hanover colt in his two starts.
He won at Addington on June 1 and was beaten a length and three-quarters by Carabella at Auckland last Friday night.
Auckland Reactor finished last at his third start in America on Sunday.
The entire recorded 1.52 at Chester.
Trainer Kelvin Harrison said that the heat (32degC) had been a problem for Auckland Reactor during his three races.
