KEY POINTS:
Whenever Michelle Wallis rates her best horses, her heart always says Sly Flyin.
Tonight at Alexandra Park though her brain is saying Marika.
The pair clash with up-and-comer Montecito in a five-horse feature, the $25,000 Franklin Cup prelude.
The numbers lining up for such a good stake are disappointing and a reflection of many open-class horses being tired after the New Zealand Cup carnival and either spelling or reloading before the huge Christmas carnival next month.
But the depth of the field is remarkable, with former Auckland Cup winner Mi Muchacho in the line-up.
Montecito should start favourite after a series of crushing intermediate grade wins this season; victories which suggest he is certain to join stablemates Monkey King and Baileys Dream in open class before long.
But tonight's 2700m standing start will be his toughest test this season, with his front line handicap somewhat negated by the small field.
If he can secure an easy middle sectional then Montecito will take a lot of catching but, if the race becomes more tactical, Wallis has the advantage of having three of the five starters.
Sly Flyin, Marika and Diamond Dan have all been part of a stellar start to the season for Wallis but there is no doubting Sly Flyin is the stable star.
He has been a medical miracle the past two years, winning group one races on the track and soundness battles off it.
He was a courageous fifth in the New Zealand Cup and New Zealand Free-For-All this month, pacing faster than ever before in both races.
"And he has travelled home great so he will be ready on Friday night," said Wallis.
Usually that would mean a winning performance from Sly Flyin but his 30m handicap, coupled with some awesome beachwork from Marika, has Wallis undecided on who she fancies more.
"Marika is the best we have had him," she offers.
"He had his problems a few months back but his third at Addington last start was huge because he has never been able to sit three wide like that over 3200m."
Marika has indicated that was no fluke with some powerful work on the beach since.
"The way he is training he could give Sly, and the rest of them, something to think about.
"If Sly gets the right run, we all know he can reel off a 26-second last quarter (400m) but the way Marika is working, so could he."
Those words, the form of Montecito and the imposing Alexandra Park record of Mi Muchacho provide punters with plenty to think about in tonight's main race and some will be happy it is not a leg of the guaranteed $100,000 Pick6, which starts later than usual on race six.
The best anchor should be Strike Up The Band in the last leg.
A high-class juvenile last season he has the speed to take advantage of his ace draw and is favoured by most of the other favourites drawing the second line.
Tonight's other key race sees Lleyton H trying to stay unbeaten this season in the main trot against Lady Segil and Wee Annie, while Running On Faith should be a big improver in race six as she warms up for the Christmas carnival.
