Sherrif.
A decision will be made today or tomorrow whether class act Sherrif will tackle the South Australian Derby.
Stablemate Hanger, a good thing beaten in Saturday's $70,000 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders Stakes, is almost certain to be spelled.
Sherrif is coming off a beaten run in the group two Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (on an unsuitable very heavy track), which followed his victory in the group three Manawatu Classic, where he put them to the sword in short order.
Hanger was beaten by a bare nose by Power O'Hata in the Breeders Stakes, but would have won clearly had Leith Innes been able to extract him from behind horses earlier in the home straight.
The lengths of Hanger's last two strides to almost get the win were remarkable.
"And if you roll the vision on a further 300m, he's 20 lengths clear of the others," said trainer Roger James. A wonderful sign.
James had to go against all his instincts to race Hanger on Saturday.
"To back up a week after coming off a win on a bogs track, well, you just would never try it.
"But I trotted and cantered him all week and, so he did practically nothing. I said to my racing manager, this is against the rule book, but the great thing is there are no rules when it comes to training horses."
Hanger has changed his attitude and the form is improved.
"He used to do just whatever he wanted to do and gradually we've been able to turn him around. He wasn't beyond holding his breath when galloping. He's going to be pretty dangerous next season."
So, too, is Power O'Hata. The Baker/Forsman team member did well to jump to Group 3 from victory in a R65 at Taranaki.
"She's a lovely filly to do anything with — you hardly know she's around the stable most of the time," said Murray Baker.
"That's the way you want them." Possibly, but Sunline would have had something to say about that.
The Australians at the Queensland winter carnival are going to have to put up with the presence of Volpe Veloce and possibly Love Affair, who beat Volpe Veloce home in the open sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.
As absolutely classy as Love Affair is, she is essentially untapped. She has had eight starts for five wins and has it all ahead of her. She was well ridden by Matt Cameron, who had her in the box seat rounding the home bend.
Take no points away from Volpe Veloce for finishing second, in fact, give her a couple more. When Love Affair and Cameron quickly put a three-length break on the others at the 375m, Volpe Veloce was locked away last on the rail and Jake Bayliss had to come across four sets of heels to set out after the eventual winner.
With Love Affair, under 55.5kg, running her final 600m in 34.4, Volpe Veloce faced an impossible task with the 60kg top weight. She would have had to run a sectional which horses simply can't do.
It was still a high-class performance on the eve of her Australian campaign.
Meanwhile, Te Akau rider Shafiq Rusof celebrated his first New Zealand black-type victory on Saturday with a polished display aboard the stable runner Our Abbadean.
The 31-year-old brought the five-year-old with a well-timed finish at Te Rapa to win the Travis Stakes from China Star and Nicoletta.
Rusof returned to Matamata this season after riding for Mark Walker for seven years in Singapore where he was twice crowned champion apprentice.
"It's a big thrill and Te Akau have supported me from day one," he said.
Our Abbadean is trained by Jamie Richards and Stephen Autridge and the former was lavish in his praise for Rusof.
"He's a very under-rated rider. He came from Singapore and when you are competitive against the likes of Michael Rodd, Joao Moreira and Vlad Duric it speaks volumes," he said.
Racing Desk