He has opened the $4.50 second favourite for Saturday's 2100m and his chances could ultimately depend on the tempo, with a hard staying test probably suiting Sherwood Forest better while a more relaxed tempo would suit Hypnos and a naturally fast mare like House Of Cartier, although she might ultimately appreciate rain, which looks unlikely.
Track staff have been putting plenty of water on the Trentham track though, keeping it a dead 5 all week to ensure no repeat of the debacle last December when the Captain Cook meeting was called off after one race because rain turned a hard track slippery.
James and Wellwood also take promising juvenile Charmario to a winnable Wellesley Stakes at Trentham after he chased home Te Akau flyers Grace N Grey and Dynastic on debut at Ellerslie.
On the summer tracks so much of training juveniles is keeping them sound and James says Charmario has no issues yet and believes Saturday's 1100m on the big track will suit him.
"He is a long strider and this looks the right track and a good race for him so he will race well."
Charmario meets an impressive debut winner in Zaher, who beat a subsequent huge winner in Lord Cosmos at Ōtaki in November.
James also warns punters to watch out for Roccia (R7, No 10) when she resumes at Tauranga today.
"She is a smart mare we think a bit of and she will race boldly, albeit from a bad draw."
The stable's two Group 1 mares Two Illicit and Concert Hall will both be late entries for the Group 1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham.
