KEY POINTS:
Here is a spot quiz for NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas enthusiasts.
Name the most glaring omission from the early nominations for the group one November feature.
We'll even throw in a clue - she runs in the second at Te Aroha today.
Sadly, there are no prizes for
guessing Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes runner-up Fleur De'Here.
But trainer Mark Walker is also happy to report there's also no hard-luck stories behind her Riccarton no-show.
"She didn't really spell that well so we've just given her extra time," he said yesterday.
"We'll bypass Riccarton and concentrate instead on the Levin Classic [on November 29].
"She's just one of those fillies who'll never carry a lot of condition anyway, but she's a real athlete."
Although taller now at three, Walker says the Dehere filly still has some bulking up to do over the next few weeks.
With that in mind he's taking the least stressful path possible to Otaki, much like he did before Fleur De'Here came within a length and a half of upsetting Nightlign in the Sires Produce at Awapuni in March.
"We'll take the soft options through to Levin; I just want to make sure I have her cherry-ripe on the day," said Walker.
Most punters will be demanding a win en-route today on the score of class alone, but Walker will be happy if she's somewhere in the first three.
She scraped home to win a Te Awamutu trial over 850m on September 18, but is still a fair way off peak fitness.
The inside alley will help, however. So will a 2kg claim from in-form apprentice Sam Collett.
A fresh-up Do Me A Favour looks the biggest danger.
The talented Howbaddouwantit mare ran seventh in Dorabella's 1000 Guineas last year.
But she has been costly as win favourite in three of her five starts since.
Fleur De'Here's stablemate Valuation could be the best value runner all day, provided the track stays reasonably firm.
He disappointed second-up at Te Rapa over 1400m on September 5, but trainer Mark Walker has tried jumping him since then, along with a "few different things".
"Hopefully that will spark him up - I know he's better than that," he said.
Valuation was rated good enough to tackle the group three Waikato Guineas last February and will appreciate the step up to 1600m today.
The Stephen McKee-trained Mufhasa looks a potential PickSix anchor in race nine.
He was an impressive winner of the first leg of Ruakaka's $100,000 two-year-old Triple Crown in May, before running third in the follow-up to The Mooseisloose.
His performance today will be an early pointer to his chance in the 2000 Guineas on November 17. The Pentire gelding was yesterday rated a $51 Riccarton chance with TAB bookies.