The stakes are high and Canterbury has plenty of talent heading south for Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s Cup Day at Ascot Park on Friday, but Southern trainers will have a strong desire to keep the money in the south.

In Race One Leeston trainer Jonny Cox starts Majestic Whisper (Majestic Son). The eight year old mare starts off the 20 metre mark and Cox will drive.

Southern trainer Nathan Williamson has Joeking (Majestic Son) in the same race and the two year old was on his best behaviour at his last start at Winton, taking out a win.

Williamson has Flying Without Wings (Pegasus Spur) running off the fifteen metre mark against a capacity field in Race Four. After having good form in the south he found the Addington company a bit rich at his last start.

Nathan has two in-form two year olds in Race Five. Ruby Roe (Captaintreacherous) has impressively won her two starts but gets a wide draw outside of likely favourite Treacherous Baby.

Nathan names Ruby Roe as the stable’s best bet.

Her stablemate Flying Ellie (Art Major) had a tough run when resuming and having drawn eight on Friday she’d drawn a tough marble.

Williamson’s talented trotter Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy) gets a front line draw against a small but talented group of trotters in Race Six. She’s likely derived plenty of benefit from her last run for third at Winton.

Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson will drive his grey Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones) in Race Six. He broke at his last start in the New Zealand Trotting FFA.

The Cox trained Pinseeker (Downbytheseaside) fronts up in Race Nine. He’s won both of his starts and faces a tough group of seasoned pacers from a second row draw.

The Williamson trained Ultimate Weapon (Bettor’s Delight) draws barrier one in Race Ten. He was beaten on debut by the talented Captain Meister.

Three year old filly Hooroo (Vincent) draws the outside of the second row for Cox in Race Ten. The five start maiden faces a daunting task against a large field.

Nathan has two runners in Race Eleven; Rise Up N Dance (Art Major) and Rakamurph (Captaintreacherous).

Rise Up N Dance’s last started was at Addington where he ran second in the South of the Waitaki behind stablemate Mr Cash Man. He draws two on the second row.