KEY POINTS:
Not only does the the $150,000 Waikato Draught Sprint contain some of New Zealand's finest equine talent, the group one race should be one of the season's tactical highlights.
No one could argue Darci Brahma does not deserve his hot favouritism after his stunning fresh-up Telegraph victory at
Trentham.
But his defeat at the hands of Kristov in this race last year once again pointed to the fact that at this elite level not one false step can be safely taken and tactics become crucial.
A year ago Darci Brahma became hooked up in traffic behind a slower runner and by the time he'd worked into the clear the leader Kristov had put too big a break on him and as fast as Darci Brahma came home, it wasn't fast enough.
Paul Moroney, who manages main rival Jokers Wild suggested this will similarly be a tactical battle.
"Probably the No1 draw for Darci makes it interesting," says Moroney. "We've drawn outside him in No3 and we'll be racing in the first two or three.
"Jokers Wild gets 3.5kg off Darci and we'll be looking to take advantage of that."
But Moroney is only too aware Darci Brahma is in probably the best form of his career.
The sprint he turned on from the 300m at Trentham could only be described as devastating.
With Kristov, Manten and Jokers Wild engaged, trainer Mark Walker has no concerns about a suitably fast pace eventuating.
The harder they go, the better Darci Brahma can finish off.
The Melton/Moroney stable is confident Jokers Wild is in top fitness despite having his preparation halted in mid-summer by a sprained near-side front fetlock.
"Jim Collett rode him in a searching gallop last Saturday morning and offered the opinion that the gallop would take him forward very quickly," said Moroney.
"His gallop on Tuesday proved that to be right and the blood taken on Wednesday showed he was exactly where he needs to be."
Raceday jockey Michael Coleman rode Jokers Wild yesterday morning and similarly told Moroney the horse is at peak.
"To take the pressure off his legs we swam him once or twice a week and played catch-up that way."
The downside of facing Darci Brahma is that Jokers Wild probably can't beat him with even luck - the upside being that the stable will get a good guide of where to aim Jokers Wild after this race.
"We all know how good Darci is and he's going to be a great yardstick for us," said Moroney.
"Last year Darci came off this race, won the weight-for-age at Otaki then finished second to Apache Cat in the Australian Guineas.
"There are three scenarios (a) we beat him (b) we push him fairly close or (c) we finish not far from him. The first might be unrealistic, but we think we we've got the last two covered."
Three-year-old filly Imananabaa comes into this race off her slightly unlucky second in the group one Railway with only 53kg on her back. There is no denying her ability even at this level.
Te Rapa Odds
TAB fixed-odds markets.-
Whakanui Stud International Stakes, $150,000, group 1, wfa, 2000m (run at Te Rapa tomorrow): $3.80 Sharvasti; $4.20 Kingsinga; $4.60 Pentane; $6.50 Kerry O'Reilly; $7 Sir Slick; $18 Gaze; $21 Highflying, Desert Flight; $26 The Silence Sir; $31 Bak Da Chief; $41 Authoress, Maroofity.
Waikato Draught Sprint, $150,000, 1400m, group 1 wfa (run at Te Rapa tomorrow): $1.80 Darci Brahma; $5 Jokers Wild; $8 Imananabaa, Kristov; $12 Dezigna; $17 Manten; $18 Kay's Awake; $21 Shinzig; $26 Clifton Prince.