KEY POINTS:
A year ago Stephen McKee went to Te Aroha for the $200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders Stakes with two runners, Captivate and Ististar.
He had had no great confidence of winning, but Captivate provided him with his first group one victory as a trainer when she led throughout
in a surprise result.
Tomorrow McKee goes into the feature with an impressive five runners and is entitled to feel considerably more confident.
Class 3-year-old Keepa Cruisin is likely to start favourite to successfully end what will be a remarkable season.
And if she manages the tough task there will be massive ticks for the filly as well as her trainer.
Keepa Cruisin has had only 14 races, but almost all of them have been tough assignments at the very top level.
"It's hard on the topline 3-year-old fillies because they've got to peak so many times.
"This filly won the Levin Classic back in the spring, the Desert Gold Stakes in the summer and now in the autumn she has to peak again for a group one.
"The fact that most of her races have been at group level will help her, it means she knows what it's all about.
"If I was tied down to pick one of my horses, I suppose it has to be her."
After a short break, Keepa Cruisin finished second to her stablemate Mufhasa at Tauranga, finishing strongly under 58kg.
This time, as one of only two 3-year-olds in the field, Keepa Cruisin carries only 54kg, a 2.5kg pull on her older rivals.
"That Tauranga race seems to have cleaned her up nicely," said McKee.
"She is certainly not showing any signs on the track of having trained off."
McKee provided an insight on his other runners.
* Culminate: "She's a good mare. Last start was her first run at 1600m and her first in the open grade. In that race she had to drag the field up to Sir Slick on the home bend otherwise she might have won instead of finishing third."
Culminate has again drawn awkwardly at No11 and may have to press forward early to get over close to the rail.
* Pams Pompallier: "She'll run the 1600m right out. The only thing against her is she needs very firm footing, so if we got some rain, and I think there's meant to be a bit more yet, it might upset her chances. I think Noel Harris will suit her style of racing. She's drawn in close so she should be able to follow Keepa Cruisin through early."
* Ististar: "Michelle [Wenn] was really happy with her effort at Tauranga, even though she finished only 13th. They went a bit quick for her there and if they were going a second and a half slower she'd be able to stay a lot handier - that's a chance if the track remains dead."
* Sardonyx: "She might not be an everyday horse, but on her day she's got a very powerful finish. If the track was dead and she was close the Te Aroha track would give her the opportunity to produce a big finish."
Special Mission, the second 3-year-old filly in the field, did well to finish only one length off Ginga Dude in the Japan/NZ Trophy at Tauranga.
The No14 barrier draw is very much against her this time, but if she gets an economical run she could still be in it.
The 54kg suits her smallish frame.
Altesino's finish to topple classy sprinter Baldessarini over 1400m at Trentham puts her right in this race against her own age. The 1600m tomorrow will suit her even better.
MAJOR PLAYER
* Stephen McKee won this race last year - his first group one victory - and has five runners in this time.
* McKee rates his classy 3-year-old filly Keepa Cruisin his best chance.
* He also considers Culminate a strong chance after her close third to Ginga Dude at Tauranga.