The road to the IRT New Zealand Cup begins for two Derby winners at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday, but only one of them is certain to still have the great race on his radar in a couple of week's time.

Three-time Derby winner Krug (pictured) and this season’s Northern Derby winner Akuta resume in a 2600m standing start trial against the latter’s stablemate Franco Indie and Alta Wiseguy, with the heat scheduled for around 2pm.

Both Krug and Akuta are using the trial to prepare for the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on September 18, their first race on the way to the NZ Cup.

But while Krug is an established open class presence and almost certain to run in the Cup, trainer Mark Purdon says there is nothing certain about Akuta’s Cup campaign.

This could create some nervous lead-up races for the punters who have piled into Akuta, shortening him to $4.50 second favouritism behind Self Assured at $2.60.

“He has come up really well and I couldn’t be happier with him,” says Purdon.

“He and Franco Indie both had 10 weeks out and it has helped them develop and I am really pleased with how they came back and what they have done since.

“The Cup is definitely one aim for Akuta but it is still not my preferred one, while I won’t even nominate Franco Indie for the Cup.”

Purdon says the New Zealand Derby remains the main and most realistic target for Akuta and any Cup campaign will ultimately be decided by the horse’s performances.

“He will start in the Hannon and then at his next start he might be up against Self Assured and Spankem at Addington,” he said.

“So a couple of starts against them will tell us where we stand. He has developed so much I am sure he will be an open class horse this campaign, but I wouldn’t be that keen on a New Zealand Cup start unless I thought he could run top three at least.

“But we will find out and if he is racing well enough, it is a realistic option. But if we don’t think it is the best thing for him, we can change plan.”

What is increasingly unlikely to be part of those plans is the Breeders Crown in Victoria, with Purdon saying its proximity to the NZ Cup meeting and NZ Derby are now making it an unlikely target.

While Akuta and Krug are set to clash at Oamaru on September 18, Franco Indie’s lower rating means Purdon has picked out a race for him at Addington two nights earlier.

The open class proven heroes in Self Assured and Spankem are also pleasing the boss in their work and will have two trials before resuming in the $50,000 Canterbury Classic at Addington on September 30.

“They both came back from the water walker up north in great shape and resuming on the 30th means they can probably have three races before the Cup.”

Purdon says he and owner Jean Feiss are no closer to deciding whether Self Assured will then head to the Inter Dominion in Victoria, a decision that may not ultimately be made until after the NZ Cup.

Also back at Wednesday’s trials is outstanding trotting talent Muscle Mountain, who will start off a 40m handicap in his 2600m trial straight after the open class pacers have done their thing.

The Rowe Cup hero may get his chance at the dream double in the Dominion after all.

Bolt For Brilliance has pleased trainer-driver Tony Herlihy so much in the early stages of this preparation that the champion horseman says a trip to Addington for the Group 1 trot on Show Day is now back on the cards.

Herlihy never totally ruled out the Dominion - a race Bolt For Brilliance finished third in last season -  but had suggested the Inter Dominion, which starts in Victoria 15 days later, was more likely.

But now he says both are on the table.

“Nothing is set in stone yet, but I and the owners are thinking we can do both,” said Herlihy.

“He has come up that well and he can be ready to race in a month, in fact he could be readier earlier but I am not going to rush him.

“So he could go to Addington and then depending on flights and how he handled the week down there, he could go to Victoria.”

Bolt For Brilliance became the first horse to claim Sundees Son’s scalp over 3200m when he beat him fair and square in the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park on May 27.

While Sundees Son clearly wasn’t at his best that night - he couldn’t even catch Temporale in second - Bolt For Brilliance’s win was remarkable, putting six and half lengths on his rivals and trotting 4:1.2 for the 3200m.

It was a career-best performance from the two-time Jewels winner and suggested while Sundees Son is still the king, his crown is anything but unmovable.

If Bolt For Brilliance makes it to Addington as Herlihy now suggests, it should see him clash with Sundees Son as he chases his third straight Dominion and Muscle Mountain in what could be a huge highlight of Cup week.

While Sundees Son is the $2 favourite for the Dominion, the TAB bookies have kept Bolt For Brilliance tight at $2.60 with Muscle Mountain at $6.

With the connections of both Sundees Son and Muscle Mountain suggesting they will not target the Inter Dominion, Bolt For Brilliance is the $2.80 favourite with most Australian bookmakers for that final at Melton on December 10.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.