Racing: Derby credentials on show

Mongolian Khan looks a sound each-way prospect for the Waikato Guineas tomorrow. Photo / Chris Loufte

Mongolian Khan will meet several of his upcoming Ellerslie opponents in the Waikato Guineas tomorrow

Mongolian Khan won't let his film-star looks stand in the way of grinding it out with the best in tomorrow's $100,000 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas.

It will be his first start in seven weeks, but co-trainer Murray Baker does not expect that to affect his 2000m fitness.

He showed he could stay when he easily beat Ezra and Midnitemagicman in the Jesters Pies Salver at Ellerslie last start, after which he was given a break to come back up and prepare for the Derby.

"We're happy with him, he's had a barrier trial and went well and we believe he's fit enough".

There are plenty of emerging 3-year-olds up against Mongolian Khan, among them McQueen, Margin Trader, Gaultier and Palace Rock.

McQueen could not have impressed more than when winning at Ellerslie last start. The home-straight sprint he produced to sweep past the opposition proved his class beyond doubt.

He is jumping from 1500m to 2000m, but everything about him suggests he will stay.

Margin Trader has impressed in two starts at 1600m since arriving from Australia. He has come home strongly in both starts, including his fifth to Volkstok'n'barrell and Rockfast in the Great Northern Guineas. He is a real Derby contender and should provide evidence of that here.

Forget Palace Rock went around in the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie last start. She was badly hampered by a horse falling in the home straight and was virtually pulled up.

She has a remarkable sprint and her talent adds significant strength to this line-up.

Kolonel Kev didn't get the best of runs when out of a place at Trentham last start. He, too, has shown flashes of real ability and is yet another that will be suited by the 2000m.

Gaultier is difficult to assess. He looked like an absolute topliner when he surprised everyone winning at Trentham last start, an effort that came on top of no real form. He went around every runner to score so there is no arguing with the performance.

Quest gets her opportunity to win again when she goes around with 54kg in the $25,000 Allied Security Hamilton Cup.

After a win two starts back, Quest went around on this track with 59kg, normally a prohibitive weight for a mare under handicap conditions.

She failed by only a narrow margin and a 5kg weight drop this time will go a long way towards helping the Matamata mare correct that.

Show The World has been marginally disappointing. To be fair, when he got beaten as hot favourite three starts back at Avondale he was tripped up by a sit-sprint tempo.

He finished a useful fifth in the Waikato Cup, then his third in the City Of Auckland Cup last start wasokay.

"We've given him a break and he comes in fresh for this," said Murray Baker.

Punting pointers

• Great last start: Reminisce (No 4, R3 Te Rapa). Struggled hugely with the right-handed Ellerslie last start and did well to finish in a place from last on the corner. Left-handed again she should go well.

• Looks really good: Hillsborough (No 6, R5 Te Rapa). Two starts beyond 1600m and has won them both. Looks a stayer with potential.

• Each-way: Fiftyshadesofgrey, (No 2, R4 Te Rapa). Slightly easier field this time and could go one better.