Labour Day is shaping as judgement day for Monbet.
That may sound strange for a 4-year-old who has won nine from 18, a Group I and more than than $150,000 in stakes but the Group III Trotters Flying Mile will be his first test in open class company.
A 2-year-old winner of the Jewels and runner-up at three in Ashburton earlier this year, making his step up to town hall company over a mile at Ashburton suits down to the ground.
Trainers Greg and Nina Hope, who race the son of Love You with long-time stable client Morrie Molloy, are confident Monbet will measure up to most of the field but Greg Hope freely admits Monbet has never gone up against the likes of Stent and co.
"He's ran the times but you never know until you go up against the top ones," Hope said.
Monbet holds a nomination for the Group I Dominion Handicap but the Hope's have been leaning towards the Group I NZ free-for-all over 1950m on cup day.
But Hope has confirmed the Dominion is still a live option.
"This run will decide whether we go to the free-for-all (on show day) or the Dominion way," Hope said.
Since running second to Sunny Ruby at the Jewels, Monbet has been beating up on intermediate grade trotters with ease when winning his last three starts by margins of five, six, and 10 lengths.
Monbet spent much of last season following home Speeding Spur but has come back from a short break much stronger.
His form last season was better than it looked when he went through a run of shocking barrier draws.
Ashburton is not much different with Monbet starting from barrier seven, outside Sheemon (6) and Stent (5).
Hope said obviously he would have liked to have drawn inside the pair but he knows if anyone can find a path through the field it will be Monbet's regular driver Ricky May.
"I know he can go with them but whether or not he can beat them is another thing all together," Hope said.
Sheemon has recovered from a slight set back that saw him put in an underwhelming run the Group III Canterbury Park Trotting Cup.
Smart mare Habibti is back in the mix after missing a run in the Canterbury Park due to muscle stiffness in her back.
Monday's watch horse for punters will undoubtedly be Australian trotter Vincennes who is currently in the care of Craig and Aimee Edmonds and will be driven by Tim Williams.
The Edmonds other runner, Kincaslough, is safely in the Dominion field but needs to show much more than she has so far this preparation to suggest she can match the third she ran in last year's Dominion.
Tony Herlihy has brought One Over Da Moon south on the back of six consecutive wins.
Ashburton will be a good indicator of where he is at after not beating top fields but doing it off massive handicaps.
The forgotten runner in the race could be Jag's Invasion's whose last start third behind Stent and Master Lavros was impressive given up he was first up since last year's Dominion.
He is unlikely to be a winning chance after drawing barrier eight but could match his runner up placing of last year.
Mat Kermeen
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