The New Zealand Trotting Cup field is starting to take shape.
Just 25 of the original 40 nominations remain after Wednesday's payment deadline, but one surprise is 2014 runner-up Franco Nelson remaining in the mix.
Late last week the Michael House trained son of Christian Cullen pulled up lame after working at home and there were fears he may have suffered a fractured pastern.
But scans earlier this week have not found any breaks.
"We can't find any fracture so why he went lame we don't know," House said.
A winner of 14 races and more than half a million dollars in stakes, Franco Nelson was given a week off and House said he seems to be bright in himself.
Although still a chance to start in the cup, Franco Nelson will not be risked unless he is 100 per cent, House said.
Time is now his enemy but House is trying to stay relaxed and is not yet worrying about the options of Ashburton or Kaikoura should he be ready in time for either.
"At the moment we are in no man's land and we are just taking it each day as it comes."
"We're keeping our options open, if he's not quite up to it we could even go straight to the free-for-all on show day."
If the camp feels he is up to racing he would go through a gruelling veterinary process before he lined up, he said.
With no Adore Me or Terror To Love in the 2015 cup, Franco Nelson's chances of starting in the race have been a polarising topic and House quipped he currently spends more time on the phone to reporters than with the horse.
There is no pressure from either House or Franco Nelson's owners Clive, Rona and Sharon McKay for the horse to contest the cup.
After discussing Wednesday's payment with the McKays, a decision was made to give the horse a chance to start.
Franco Nelson has not started on race day since January when trained by Robert Dunn but House was happy with the way he was progressing after his last trial before he pulled up lame.
Southland owned but now Australian based pacer Franco Ledger and Venus Serena were the only runners inside the top 15 to come out on Wednesday.
Venus Serena will be targeting the major mares races later in the season and Franco Ledger will focus on the Inter Dominion series in Perth.
The top three in last Friday's Canterbury Classic are guaranteed a start which moves Tiger Tara up to second in the rankings and Smolda to third, with Christen Me holding the number one spot.
Those moves see the Australian-based Arden Rooney move back to fourth with Franco Nelson holding firm in fifth.
Australians Corzin Terror (8th), Forever Gold (11th) and Alleluia (16th) remain in the nominations.
Mighty Flying Mac (12th), Belkmyster (14th), Te Kawau (15th), Messini (18th) No Doctor Needed (20th), Mach's Gladiator (21st), Lewy Risk (22nd), Delightful Dash (23rd), Quick As A Trick (24th) and Ideal Success (25th) will have a chance to press their cup start claims on Sunday in the Group III Methven Cup.
Brilliant Strike (19th) races in an C4-C6 pace at Addington on Friday night.
Mat Kermeen
Reproduced with permission of Stuff NZ Check site here