KEY POINTS:
Nordic Dancer's low-key Tauranga assignment today could be the start of something special.
Matamata trainer Lance Noble already has the group three $100,000 Rotorua Cup (2200m) on Saturday week on the drawing board for his potential winter star.
"If she wins or places on Wednesday she might just
sneak in to the field at the bottom of the handicap," said Noble.
"She's a genuine stayer and the wetter the better for her; she just keeps grinding away on a wet track."
Noble says the Sunshine Coast's A$200,000 ($225,000) Caloundra Cup (2400m) on June 30 is also a target for the exciting 4-year-old, with conditions to suit.
The camp didn't strike the preferred wet stuff in a hit-and-run raid on the Queensland Oaks with Nordic Dancer last year.
But they could have a lot more luck at Caloundra.
The Peter McKenzie-trained Empyreal has won the last two Queensland listed features, both times on rain affected going.
Meanwhile, Noble can't fault the condition of the two-win Generous mare going into today's big Rotorua Cup trial.
He says the rain hovering around the area since the weekend is also a big assist against R92 rivals.
"Nordic Dancer seems to be as fast on the wet tracks as the good ones," says Noble.
This time last year she won the same 3-year-old race Queensland Oaks contender Overkaast scored in at Te Rapa on Saturday.
A long neck behind Nordic Dancer on the heavy surface that day was Sculptor, who went on to run third in the Brisbane Cup a few weeks later.
"I like her a lot and I do rate her," said Noble of the mare owned by main stable clients Alan and Colleen Jackson.
"Being by Generous she's just needed time but she's a lot stronger now."
That improvement may explain why Nordic Dancer jumped as fifth win favourite last time out in the Manawatu Classic (2000m) on April 14.
Noble says Nordic Dancer's work leading into the listed feature was sensational, but she never got a chance to translate that on to the track.
Apprentice Sam Fieldes had Nordic Dancer cruising along in sixth or seventh position three back on the fence for most of the race.
But turning for home the pair copped a wall of interference and got shuffled back to last with 150m to run.
It was a miracle she managed to pick herself up again and storm past three of the tailenders to finish seven lengths behind winner Thee Auld Hussie.
Michael Coleman, who combined with Nordic Dancer to win the Cambridge Trophy last year, takes over the reins today in the chase for a $7500 Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme windfall.