KEY POINTS:
The Kiwis could have their biggest ever Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.
Never before has the New Zealand flag had flying for it the likes of Seachange, Gee I Jane, King Of Ashford, Legs, The One and Zabeat on one race card, which is widely considered to
be one of the top-three racedays in the world.
Collectively the six horses are running for total stakes of A$3.25 million ($3.75 million).
Perhaps the best piece of luck came with yesterday's barrier draw when Seachange picked up gate No 2 in the A$502,000 Myer Classic (1600m), the race Miss Potential won a couple of years ago.
In a capacity 16-horse field, a wide barrier would have been disastrous.
Seachange can clear the starting gates brilliantly, but having to cross a big field, which includes many other speedy starters, would have been detrimental.
Regular rider, Australian Gavin McKeon, has retained the ride in Melbourne.
Rewaaya, almost certainly the horse to beat, has drawn nicely at No 7. Her trainer David Hayes is the hottest property of the spring carnival.
Normally a trainer would be delighted to have drawn barrier No 1 in a group one sprint, but Neville Couchman is unsure of the inside barrier for Gee I Jane in the A$500,000 Salinger Stakes.
The reason is that the race is down the straight 1200m chute at Flemington and whether an inside draw is an advantage depends on any number of variables, the two most notable being the racing style of the horse involved and whether the inside or outside strip of the chute is proving the fastest lane on the day.
The No 1 gate almost always commits a horse to staying on the inside running rail, unless all the others head to the grandstand rail, at which point the inside barrier becomes the outside barrier.
"I spoke to my rider Michael Rodd as soon as the draws came out today and he asked me whether I thought it was a good draw and I said the only time we're going to know that is after the race," said Couchman.
"I just hope it works. At least she'll have a rail to go down."
Kelt Capital Stakes winner Legs and King Of Ashford and new rider Nash Rawiller give New Zealand a strong hand in the Mackinnon Stakes.
Trainer Karen Zimmerman said yesterday King Of Ashford is flying in training since his gallant first-up Australian effort for second at Caulfield when left in front in the home straight and vulnerable to a swooper.
His barrier draw of No 14 of the 15 runners looks daunting, but Zimmerman said she would rather have him out there than in at No 2 or No 3. Legs should get a economical run from barrier No 3.
Zabeat might be topping off his preparation for the Melbourne Cup in the A$254,000 Saab Quality, but no one turns down a winning stake of A$150,000.
"He's travelled beautifully," said co-trainer Dean Logan, who accompanied the horse.
The One has been in Melbourne with Mike Moroney for a while, but New Zealanders will be claiming the victory if he gets home in the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby.
He looked good in blinkers for the first time this preparation last Saturday when chasing home Derby favourite Efficient.