Cambridge trainer Trevor Cruz is hardly daring to think that fitness, weather and the right races could all align for his three runners today.
Cruz has been one of many trainers frustrated by a wet late summer and autumn and without trying to goad Mother Nature, he is aiming tocapitalise on the current dead track conditions at Te Rapa and Hastings.
"My team has been out of sync with the weather. The two cyclones passing through have changed things a bit and I've had horses ready to go on a good track, but they just haven't been around," Cruz said.
Cruz and his brother Martin will produce Elusive Meteor in the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa and Packing Tycoon and Heart Beat at Hastings.
Northern Meteor filly Elusive Meteor has yet to finish worse than fourth in four starts and lowered the colours of Andado, who has won three consecutive races since, to clinch her maiden win.
"It's a very tough field. You've got Hall Of Fame and his form is great and there are a lot of good three-year-olds coming in with good form," Cruz said.
"My horse is well though and if she can run a placing, we'd be pleased. If the conditions stay the same, I think she can be competitive."
Cruz said Elusive Meteor was a work in progress, but she had plenty of potential.
TAB bookmakers have made Elusive Meteor a $28 outsider for the Cambridge Breeders' Stakes in a market headed by Levin Classic winner Hall Of Fame at $2.40.
Cruz was happy with both his Hastings runners and said Heart Beat could earn himself a start in next month's Rotorua Cup (2200m) with a bold showing in the Vertigo Catering@ HB Racing 2100.
"He's very sensitive to any change in the ground, but if he gets a dead track, he should run well. Cruz also said he had high hopes for Packing Tycoon in the Livamol Autumn Stakes (1400m).
