The Kaikoura Cup today is the last chance saloon for several pacers as next week's New Zealand Trotting Cup looms.
None more so than Te Kawau.
The pride of the Central Districts is on the fringes of a start in the great race on the second Tuesday in November, but needs a strong performance in today's $50,000 feature to give his trainer, Stephen Doody, a firmer grasp on his destiny next week.
He is 17th on the rankings, with the top 15 getting a start.
The 5yr old has bounced back from a slightly under par effort in the Methven Cup on October 18, even though he finished fifth.
''He's just got to be right on his game,'' Doody said.
''He did run to them at Methven the other day, but we've never really seen him fade and he did fade that little bit which was a bit disappointing, really.
''He's come along a lot better. He should be a lot better than he was there, I hope.''
Doody took bloods from the son of Bettor's Delight after the Methven run. The results suggested the gelding had ''quite a high stress factor on him'', Doody said.
''So we put another paddock mate with him and he seems a lot happier now.''
Doody was keen to get back to the picturesque South Bay Racecourse, where he lined up his open class trotter, Braig, in 2006, 2007 and 2009. However, he had not lined up a pacer in the cup since Mister D G in 2003.
The draw of barrier 1 can be awkward in a standing start, but it should be an advantage on the South Bay track. A lack of camber on the turns means the front runners are often hard to catch.
''He is a good pacer and he handles Manawatu [track] as good as gold, so he should be right around there [at South Bay].''
Doody's main focus is making the New Zealand Cup field, but he will enact Plan B if he has to.
''If he doesn't make the cup field, I'll run him in another race and it will be all right. But it would be great to be in the cup and I just hope like hell he can run in the first three tomorrow.''
The Graeme Anderson trained Belkmyster also needs a good run - probably a top three finish - to sneak his way in to the New Zealand Cup field.
He sits 16th in the rankings, tantalisingly close to a start. Quick As A Trick (18th), Brilliant Strike (19th) and Mach's Gladiator (20th) would likely need a win today to claw their way in to the biggest race on the New Zealand pacing calendar.
The Australian visitor and defending Kaikoura Cup champion, Arden Rooney, was the fixed odds favourite yesterday at $2.60, just ahead of Messini ($3.60) and Mossdale Conner ($4).
