Darrin Williams, the handicapper, confirmed last night that the outcome of the $12,500 Louisson would affect the final ratings for the cup due on Monday.
Pure Power is 16th in the rankings for the cup, issued yesterday. The final field is 15 horses. Pure Power, who has won his last two starts at Addington and Ashburton, moved to 16th with the withdrawal yesterday of Choise Achiever, who was well beaten in the Kaikoura Cup on Monday.
Blair Orange has the drive on Friday.
Sushi Sushi, winner of the Kaikoura Cup, has moved from 10th to fourth in the rankings.
Major Mark, the runner-up, has gone from 17th to 11th.
Trainer Tim Butt said Choise Achiever was still troubled by a virus. He will have a let-up and head to Australia next month.
Butt has Mah Sish and Stunin Cullen in the top 15 for the cup.
Mah Sish and Stunin Cullen have been freshened. Mah Sish has been placed in his three starts this season, the most recent a third to Gold Ace and Terror To Love in the Canterbury Classic on October 12.
Stunin Cullen finished ninth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on October 22.
Mah Sish and Pure Power are among five cup candidates in the Louisson Handicap. The others are Auckland Reactor, Gold Ace and Pembrook Benny.
Gold Ace has recovered from a bruised foot he sustained when he threw a shoe at Ashburton.
• Trainer Warren Bartlett is able to enter the Oamaru racecourse after being granted an interim injunction against a trespass notice issued by the Oamaru Harness Racing Club.
David Heffernan, the president of the club, said the matter would now go to court at a date to be set.
Bartlett had been issued with the notice after warnings from the joint grounds committee to improve his behaviour.
