Stephen Doody is tapping into his past to make a shock 10-1 call about Te Kawau's return to Addington tomorrow night.
Because not only does the Central Districts trainer say he is not intimidated by taking on Christen Me with his stable star, he says he can win his $40,000comeback race.
Te Kawau will start from the outside of the front line in his first outing since finishing second to Sky Major in the Jewels back in May.
He has had only two workouts this campaign yet Doody is adamant he won't be outclassed this week and confident if things go his way he can win -- all this with a horse who has never won a major open class race.
The reason Doody has such belief in the horse dubbed "The Prince of Palmy" is comparing his ability to former topliner in Mister D G.
Doody trained Mister D G until close to open class, from where he went on to win Hunter Cup and Doody says Te Kawau is at least as good if not better. "This is a very good horse, definitely up to Mister D G and maybe better.
"He was a good horse last season when just about the only time he was unplaced was when he was unlucky in the Messenger. But I think people will see a different horse this season. Back then he was a weak horse but he has put on a lot of muscle.
"It is hard to tell what will happen on Friday because we have to start from the outside of the front line and the two favourites are drawn well.
"If we run in three we qualify for the New Zealand Cup but I still wouldn't be surprised if we won it. He is that good."
While the Central Districts doesn't produce top pacers out of turn, their best ones can be outstanding, with Mister D G coming a few years after the freakish Yulestar, who won not only the New Zealand Cup but the Inter Dominion Final in Brisbane.
Te Kawau heads a three-horse team Doody has taken south, which will be based in Canterbury until after Cup week, meaning he will return home once a week to oversee his stable for the start of the Central Districts circuit from next week.
Punters who think Doody is right can get $11 with the TAB in their opening market, with Christen Me the $1.65 favourite tomorrow night in front of Tiger Tara at $4.50.
Meanwhile, Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney is confirmed to make the trip from Victoria to Addington for the New Zealand Cup, stopping in to defend his Kaikoura Cup title a week earlier.
