This fellow has the course and distance credentials to give his opposition the hurry-up and, providing the track holds up as good or dead footing, he would have to be included in combinations.
At the New Year meeting at Tauherenikau, Bally Bay went out a short-priced favourite over this distance and held on to win.
He has had only a single race-day start since then, at New Plymouth in early February, and saw out an extra 200m in fine style, finishing runner-up behind Airlie House.
Trainer Shane Brown will be keeping on eye on Woodville rival Paua Eyes, in the care of trainer Marty Johnson, who is likewise a handy galloper at this distance and secured her maiden win on this track.
Paua Eyes took time to find her feet but her last few efforts have been pretty consistent, although Ellerslie company proved to be a bit rich for her last start. On that occasion Paua Eyes finished well back in 11th spot in a 14-horse line-up over 1200m, but bear in mind she was less than five lengths from the winner, Cinematic.
Several horses are making their way back to the track from lengthy spells and that always creates a dilemma for punters, who can never be quite sure how forward the returning gallopers are, especially in the absence of trials form.
Opaki gallopers Share the Blame, Longchamp, and Auxsoelusive all fall into this category and therefore would have to be taken on trust.
So, too, does the very capable galloper, Diamond Cut, from the Haworth stable in Foxton, winner of three and placed a further three times from a career total of eight starts.
The mare has been off the scene since mid-October, having just failed to win two back-to-back races by almost nabbing Letsgetiton at Otaki.
This may be a shade short for Diamond Cut, but she has a nice draw and, depending on fitness, could clinch the race.
Others to seriously consider would have to be veteran topweight Aldebaran Star, ultra consistent Thien Ly, and Platinum Express from the Lisa Latta stable at Awapuni.
Latta generally manages to get some of the money when she brings horses to Tauherenikau and has nine runners at this meeting.
In the last leg of the treble, the O'Reilly mare, Irish Whisper, could well have the whip hand.
She won at Otaki in late February after a ding-dong battle with Macklemore and then went on to the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham, where she put in a reasonable effort to finish ninth.
At the 300m she actually looked as if she could run into the money but was found wanting in the last 200m and wilted.
This is easier but she will need to better the likes of Miss Benci, who will appreciate the 3kg claim of Ryan Elliot and one of two John Barry runners Cool Hand Duke.
Cool Hand Duke only just lasted to win its last start at Wairoa but a win is a win and he will again have the benefit of senior rider Jonathan Riddell.
One to test them will be Crackling Rosie in the hands of impressive apprentice rider Danielle Hirini.
Although the mare failed in a weight-for-age feature at Tauherenikau in early February, she comes back in both distance and class here.
