KEY POINTS:
The interest in tomorrow's $50,000 Waikato Stud Opunake Handicap is whether the 58kg topweight can stop Lord Monty.
It certainly won't be a lack of class that beats the handsome son of His Royal Highness.
Nor will it be Lord Monty's advanced age of nine - he was
a very late starter, who has still had only 25 race starts.
And you can forget Lord Monty's fifth placing to Fritzy Boy at Otaki last week when the 1200m distance was the only suitable lead-up to the race after a spate of abandoned meetings and altered programmes.
If you needed only one form reference for this race what about the 10.5 length win in last year's Winter Cup at Riccarton, after which Lord Monty suffered a leg injury that looked certain to end his career.
But, of course, there's more.
During a Brisbane winter campaign last year Lord Monty was fourth, only 1.1 lengths from the winner, in the listed Winter Stakes in Brisbane and was beaten a short half-head in the A$200,000 Glasshouse Stakes at Caloundra.
Lord Monty looked good leading throughout for a strong 1600m victory at Foxton two starts back and is closer to full fitness now than he was that day.
The 1800m around New Plymouth in heavy ground looks ideal for him.
Ration Point is another genuine veteran in the best form of his career.
He came off a low rating and carried an additional 1kg when he won in open company at Riccarton two weeks ago, careering away to score by 9.5 lengths.
He handles the worst of winter footing well and with a forecast of continued showers, should encounter a very testing track tomorrow.
Versatile Taranaki mudlark Mickey could be the surprise. He finished well adrift of the placegetters behind Bulginbaah in a strong 1400m field at Wanganui last start, but that probably wasn't his type of race.
He is another who will appreciate the step to 1800m.
The $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Finance and Leasing 4YO has probably drawn a disappointing field for the stakemoney.
But there are few early-season 4-year-olds ready to run a testing 1600m in heavy ground.
This has produced is a very even betting race with Maid In Berlin, Harkhuf, Belfast Lad and two of last week's runaway maiden winners, Caught Out and Malachite, all in with winning chances.
Maid In Berlin has the advantage of her home track and Harkhuf is another local still at the improving stage.
Peter McKenzie's pair of Caught out and Malachite, both by underrated sire His Royal Highness, will be untroubled by the likely deep footing.