The class of Thumpem could prevail in the heat of the Sires' Stakes for 3yr-olds at Forbury Park tonight.
Thumpem has not raced for four months, but he won three races of consequence as a 2yr-old.
He triumphed in the Yearling Sales Pace at Addington in May after a win in the Graduate at Alexandra Park.
He also won a heat of the Young Guns series at Alexandra Park at the expense of Ohokas Bondy, who carried on to win his four starts, including the group one Golden Slipper, in Perth.
• Brent Barclay, who drove Nordic Sun to win at Forbury Park last week, switches to stablemate Aylesham there tonight.
Aylesham ran on late for third at Ascot Park on Friday after being hampered at the 600m.
• Tintin In America, second favourite for the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 9, is up against it to be fit for the race, The New Zealand Herald reports.
Tintin In America was scheduled to resume racing in the Methven Cup on Sunday, but a setback ruled out a start.
"He has had a small problem which means he isn't as forward as I would like," Geoff Small, his trainer, said.
"I would like to race him at Addington on Friday week but if he doesn't get there, then it becomes pretty hard to be ready for the Cup.
His only other option would be Ashburton then the Cup Trial and that makes it hard to be really fit" Tintin In America is the $6.50 second favourite behind Monkey King at $2.50. The Interdominion Grand Final at Addington has been switched to Friday, April 8 from the following night to avoid a clash with a Super 15 rugby match.
• The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club made the switch after it was announced the Crusaders had been drawn to play the Bulls in Christchurch on April 9.
"It simply doesn't make any sense for two major sporting events to clash on the same night in Christchurch," Shane Gloury, the chief executive of the club, said.
"We had been liaising with the Crusaders in an attempt to avoid a clash in dates but the tri-nations nature of the Super 15 competition has not been able to accommodate this."
Five group one races are scheduled at the April 8 meeting.
• Runnin Outa Excuses, who has not raced since February, 2008, won a trial at Winton yesterday.
The winner of eight of his 12 starts, Runnin Outa Excuses is now a 7yr-old.
