It's true two-year-olds improve markedly with their first raceday visit.
Mystery Show will attempt to put some balance into that statement by tackling some experienced juveniles while on debut in this afternoon's $15,000 Mullins Tyres Pearl Series Fillies Classic at Avondale.
The filly has been one of the most stylish barrier trials winners in the north this season, winning all three trials by a collective 12 lengths.
As impressive as Mystery Show's speed is, it's her ability to work strongly away from her opposition late in her efforts that takes the eye.
Perhaps that is not surprising given she is closely related to Showcause, who won the New Zealand Cup, an Avondale Cup and City Of Auckland Cup. Both horses are direct descendants of champion racemare Show Gate who did not prove as good as a broodmare, but left a legacy through her daughters.
Mystery Show will be chased by Irish Missile, Onstage and Spindle, a trio of talented fillies who ran close seconds at their last start, all to smart horses.
Irish Missile overcame a rocky run to run strongly to the finish on this track to be a neck behind Showpin. Onstage was unlucky enough to run into a exceptionally talented Memories Only at Rotorua, but never stopped trying up the home straight and Spindle fought strongly when second to Lord Ascot at Pukekohe two weeks ago.
A couple of short-priced favourites should go close to winning today, Iamallowedto in Race 2 and Novelty in Race 7.
Punters who lost out over the disgraceful Rotorua incident when a heavy track was not revealed should get some of that money back off Iamallowedto.
The Matamata filly does not mind some easing of the track, but Rotorua's track was a bog. Auckland's rain yesterday should make the footing perfect for her.
The well-bred Novelty has looked an early winner with her two visits to the races for a fourth and a second last start.