Megablast and Mime have the class factor to be right in the party in tomorrow's $100,000 Manco Easter at Pukekohe.
It's not unkind to imagine Megablast's form as being a touch roller coaster, but he has been a slow maturing type and trainer Nigel Tiley says the dashing grey isa different horse this preparation.
"He's a much stronger horse than we all saw previously," says Tiley. "He will be 30-something kilos heavier for most of this preparation."
The key will be that Megablast races best when on the fresh side and hasn't raced since October. Much of his best form has been at middle distances, but he is no slouch at this 1600m distance and being fresh he looks well placed. Last season Megablast finished second in the 2400m Avondale Cup, went up to 3200m to finish fourth in the Auckland Cup and nine weeks later he had freshened sufficiently to win over 1600m at Ellerslie by nine lengths. That is the perfect example of how good he can be when on the fresh side.
Mime also comes in fairly fresh. She tailed the field in the listed 1400m at Awapuni when resuming recently, but take little notice of that. She carried 59.5kg and was left three wide without cover, so it was little surprise to see her weaken out late. She has shown she can come up quickly in her campaigns and this race looks nice for her. She drops from the 59.5kg to 57kg and at her best form in stakes races she would be very competitive.
Seventh Up will be the emotional favourite. He stunned everyone when he came from last to sprint through the entire field to win this race last year at Ellerslie. He has been in great form this prep, but has 59kg this time compared to the 55kg he went around with in last year's Easter. With a record of four wins from five starts in the heavy even that might not be enough to stop him.
Romancer is the interesting runner. When fresh this preparation he went terrific races, but he was a touch one-paced at the end of his 1400m at Te Aroha last start and up to 1600m on a track that will produce a very testing home straight he might be better suited.
The give in the track might be a fraction more than he has shown a desire for, but it may not be enough to keep him out of the money. Sultan Of Swing and Ronchi are capable of being in the action.
Sherrif will be giving away experience when he tackles the $100,000 Valachi Downs Championship Stakes, but not potential. If you want to get excited about a winning performance go to the NZTR website and have another look at Sherrif's 3YO victory at Awapuni on March 31.
It was truly massive with a driving finish that would have done a Group 1 winner justice. That was only his third race appearance and it's fair to believe the son of High Chaparral and J'Adane will still be on the up.
Local Time Lord has more experience and that will stand by him in what should be a tough race. He will be ridden by trainer Richard Collett's son-in-law Andrew Calder, who has returned home permanently from years riding in Macau.
