The Avenel trainer has qualified Malcolms Rhythm and Max Delight for the $500,000 showdown and the draw on Monday night provided mixed luck for his two pacers.
Malcolms Rhythm, who will be driven by Aiken’s son Josh, has landed a favourable barrier three draw but Max Delight will have to contend with a second row barrier 10, two off the second row.
Max Delight finished second in the final round of heats at Newcastle to the Amanda Turnbull-trained Bundoran and will again have Australia’s most-winning reinsman Chris Alford in the sulky.
Malcolms Rhythm finished seventh to Expensive Ego in the final round of heats, but finished less than nine metres from the winner after being among the tail-enders for most of the trip and being forced to race deep when trying to make late ground.
Yesterday Malcolms Image was quoted as a 20-1 chance and Max Delight a 25-1 for the final.
The draw for the final has extra intrigue for the Belinda McCarthy-trained trio King Of Swing, Expensive Ego and Spirit Of St Louis.
Expensive Ego has drawn the pole and will have the services of Shepparton horseman David Moran, Luke McCarthy will partner the series favourite King Of Swing, while McCarthy’s father John will have the sit on Spirit Of St Louis who will come from barrier five.