By MIKE DILLON
Tantamount continues successfully handling stepping up in grades and can do it again for the McKee stable in tomorrow's $15,000 Foley Handicap at Avondale.
The smartly bred mare has risen quickly in class, winning three of her last four races and is looking better with each start.
Her last-to-first effort to win at Te Aroha last start was the best of those efforts and left no doubt she could make the transition to open company this time.
"She was the only winner to come from the back of the field at Te Aroha," said co-trainer Stephen McKee.
The key to the race could be the track conditions. If Creme De Honor gets an "off" surface he will start favourite and probably win.
Anything firmer would put Creme De Honor off his game and swing it in favour of Tantamount.
"She's done well since Te Aroha," said McKee.
"She will be a stakes mare, if not by the end of this campaign, then certainly in her next preparation."
Creme De Honor has not raced since September, but he has won three of his four races when fresh from a break. The Vance stable is good at getting their horses ready early in a preparation.
Smart spring 3-year-old Millennium reappears for the McKees in the $9000 Mondiale Freight Services 1200 and Stephen McKee says he is forward enough to be competitive.
Millennium has not raced since finding the firm track against him in the Bayer Classic at Otaki in late November.
He won the Guineas at Ellerslie on a soft track at only his second raceday appearance and if he gets any easing in the track will be more than competitive in a C2 race this time.
"He's been leading in his races and there is plenty of speed in the race, so it will be interesting," said McKee.
"But he probably won't be able to lead in his next race, the Sunline Stakes at Te Rapa, so it won't be the worst thing to happen if he can't get the front this time."
The danger could be Matamata filly Special Call, who ran 1.9.32 on her own in front when winning by three lengths on her home track last start.
Trevor McKee is to fly to Melbourne either Sunday or Monday to inspect Sunline in quarantine to decide whether the champion mare will race at the tailend of the Sydney autumn carnival or return home and spell.
"She's doing very well," said Stephen McKee.
"She's put on weight and is already heavier than when she raced in Dubai.
"We've taken a blood off her today and when we get the results of that it will tell us more about how she is.
"Whether she goes to Sydney may end up being decided by whether there is a flight for her, we're not too keen on floating her up there. She's had a lot of travelling and a road trip is the last thing she needs right now."
Racing: Tantamount ready to step up again
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