A trip to NZ on the cards for star Aussie pacer . . . maybe!

A decision on whether star Australian pacer Majestic Cruiser (Art Major) chases New Zealand’s biggest harness racing events hinges on a controversial meeting between NZ racing chiefs this week.

Trainer Jason Grimson wants to take last Saturday’s Group 1 Blacks A Fake winner across to Christchurch for the $NZ800,000 NZ Cup at Addington on November 8.

It’s been a major goal since Majestic Cruiser upstaged New Zealand’s best pacers to win the Group 1 Messenger at Auckland’s Alexandra Park in April.

But a stunning development in New Zealand this week has put Grimson’s plans in limbo.

It could also see New Zealand’s two best pacers – Self Assured and Copy That – bypass the famed NZ Cup and head to Australia instead.

Governing body Harness Racing NZ presented host club Addington with a request, bordering on a demand, to change the conditions of the Cup to a standing-start handicap.

The move had shocked Addington officials, who are committed to running the race as planned as a standing-start free-for-all (no handicaps).

It is understood Addington officials are meeting on Tuesday (Jul. 26) to assess the situation and prepare a response to HRNZ.

A switch would mean winning certain feature races across Australasia would incur a 10m handicap (per win) for the NZ Cup, which a backmark capped at 20m.

In the case of Self Assured, he would have to start from 20m behind his rivals if the conditions were changed.

As last year’s Cup winner, Copy That would face a 10m handicap.

It is understood the handicap conditions would also see Majestic Cruiser given 10m handicap.

“If he gets a handicap, he won’t go,” Grimson said.

“The NZ Cup is his next target because I think it’s such a suitable race and he could go to Melbourne for the Inter Dominion straight after it.

“But he will stay here (NSW) and go straight to Melbourne if they give him a 10m handicap for the (NZ) Cup. It’s up to them now.”

The connections of Self Assured and Copy That – both owned in Australia – have also indicated a strong preference to bypassing the NZ Cup should the conditions change.

They have the option of heading to Australia earlier for the $350,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 8.

It would be an ideal “Plan B” with the glamour pair then being able to stay in Australia until the Inter Dominion, run over two weeks from late November to early December.

by Adam Hamilton, for Newscorp