The Shindig filly Lil Mer may be small but she's tough as old boots as her gutsy win at Hastings two weeks ago showed.
Stacey Dougan said after the win she was nearly hoarse from shouting encouragement to her little charge as the filly took over at the 500m to win by better than four lengths.
Dougan had every reason to be pleased with Lil Mer who is entered in the last on the card at Trentham tomorrow and, despite stronger opposition, is capable of saluting the judge again.
Lil Mer is obviously best suited to really wet tracks and it's hard to see Trentham being anything other than heavy so she will again be in her element.
The 3-year-old has chalked up three good efforts for a win and two seconds in three starts since the end of May and was well rated at Hastings by comeback jockey Tommy Russell.
If anything is to count against her tomorrow it could be the draw. Lil Mer has got the 12 alley, not ideal over 1400m at Trentham - a tricky track for many runners at the best of times - but if that doesn't prove a problem Dougan could be straining her voice again come the end of racing tomorrow.
Included in last race rivals for Lil Mer will be two other Wairarapa-trained runners Desert Saboteur and Running Late.
The former has had only one start back from a five-month spell and Tauherenikau trainer Frank Stammers would take most punters by surprise if he produced the gelding to win.
Not such an unlikely proposition is Running Late.
Trainer James Wallace part-owns this Gold Centre gelding who showed his first glimpse of form at Hastings.
He is another to relish the heavier winter going and his third placing behind Bay Dancer at the bay was a pretty good effort.
He has drawn an inside alley tomorrow and it will be interesting to see where he is placed in the running, given that nine races will have been run on the expected heavy surface before the field for the last breaking from the barrier.
Earlier in the day hardy annual Eric The Viking will step out in the $70,000 Wellington Steeplechase.
Although still a maiden steeplechaser Eric The Viking is a seasoned campaigner both on the flat and over sticks and jumps his fences with confidence.
Trainer Aaron Bidlake will be hoping to get some of the rich pickings on offer here.
Last start winner Sea Eagle has accepted in race 8, the Parliamentary handicap and trainer Kylie Little has every reason to feel pleased with the mare's latest performances, especially the Hastings win.
After a slow start Sea Eagle gathered them in and won emphatically.
She will make life interesting for her more favoured opponents tomorrow, which include Rising Tide and The Muffin Man.
Liv'n Paradise from the Roger Allen stable is chasing the money in the Whyte Handicap and is another who shows consistent wet weather form.