Two of the main chances in tomorrow's $30,000 Curraghmore 3YO Premier, Captain Kurt and Gomez, have not been seen in public this preparation.
But that won't stop them being ready for the big assignment.
Co-trainer Wayne Hillis is confident the talented Captain Kurt is right up to the mark for
what will be his first start since May.
The Volksraad 3-year-old made a huge impression winning a juvenile event at Te Rapa in late April and was no less impressive when beaten by a heavy track and Twinkling in stakes grade at Ellerslie before being spelled.
To fit him for this race, the Hillis stable matched Captain Kurt up with the free-running Maroofity in training at Matamata last week.
"It was a very good hit-out," said Hillis. "He's pretty ready for this."
Captain Kurt has drawn a touch awkwardly at No 9 in the 11-horse field, but Hillis is not concerned.
"He's a very relaxed horse and can race anywhere in a field. He'll be out there to get the best slot he can get and he'll be happy with it."
The better the track conditions, the better Captain Kurt will perform. He will be ideally suited if there is no further rain.
Southerner Final Reality has won four races and none of his rivals have won more than once, but he has to carry 57kg clear topweight.
The 2kg he concedes to Captain Kurt might be critical.
Gomez is the interesting runner. He looked a topliner in the making in winning on debut at Matamata in early July, an effort that had his connections looking at lofty targets.
"We thought about getting him ready for the Derby in Melbourne, but he pulled a muscle not long after that race and had to be eased," said part-owner Paul Moroney. "He's going down there as a real nice hope."
The only concern for Moroney is that Gomez has yet to trial or race on anything but heavy footing.
"He is a good, clean-actioned horse and we'll be surprised if he doesn't act on decent ground. We have Derby aspirations for him."
The No 1 barrier may not be an advantage. "He might get found out for a bit of a sprint in this race."
Roger James' Jacquart got no luck when resuming at Taupo and could be the improver.
