Levin owner-trainer Peter McKenzie could achieve a double that eluded him four years ago at Greymouth today.
McKenzie won the Kumara Nuggets in 2006 with Bejayjay, who then ran second to Exonerate in the Greymouth Cup, run at Kumara that year, a week later. Bejayjay faced a rise of 3.5kg
to 58kg in the Greymouth Cup.
Malachite is up 4kg on the 54kg he carried in the Kumara Nuggets (1810m) last Saturday, with Jamie Bates again the rider over today's 2000m.
Exonerate was trained by Michael Pitman, who has Peyow Peyow and Coup Pie as rivals for Malachite.
Peyow Peyow ran third to Malachite and Shelby at Kumara. He ran third to stablemate Borninthestates and I Command with Coup Pie fourth in the Greymouth Cup last year.
Borninthestates won the Kumara Nuggets-Greymouth double for Pitman in 2008. He has trained the past three Greymouth Cup winners.
Parole, a winner for the Riccarton horseman at Kumara and Hokitika on Wednesday, is backing up in the rating 90 1100m race today. "I think the race will be run to suit her with Sandcastle and Lil' Monster in the field and likely to lead," Pitman said.
Parole, who has been rehandicapped 1.5kg to 58kg, will again be ridden by stable apprentice Amelia Denby, who can claim 3kg.
Sand Toyz, winner of the Miss Scenicland Stakes (1650m) for the Pitman stable on Wednesday, is not liable for a rehandicap in a rating 70 1500m race today, because that win was under weight-for-age conditions.
Our Genes, to be ridden by David Walsh, is a top prospect in race 11.
