"Not many fillies would have done what she did last start, when you consider Laver went on to win the Ashburton Cup at his next start," says True Fantasy's trainer-driver Mark Purdon.
"She is a very good filly and she has trained well up there where Brent Mangos is looking after her for us.
"So I have no doubts she is the one to beat but she will still need the right run," Purdon explained.
"She has gate speed though so she can go forward."
If True Fantasy is able to lead the race should be as good as over and sitting close to the speed she should also win, but she was beaten here sitting parked in May when Dance Till Dawn led and wouldn't hand up, and the passing lane horse Cover Girl beat True Fantasy late.
That type of run would seem her biggest threat again, with Dance Till Dawn drawn inside the favourite at 3 and if she leads it could potentially give True Fantasy backers some nervous moments.
Add in Remember Me, who would love an early war up front, and the very tough and talented pair of First Rose and Lady Of The Light, and the race shapes up as a superb centrepiece for the restructured New Year's Eve meeting.
While it isn't the richest race of the night, the $50,000 Franklin Cup is the most intriguing, having the feel of a good old fashioned handicap where the attitude of the drivers on the front line could determine the chances of superstars like Krug and Bettor Twist off the 20m mark.
Krug is the best performed horse in the race but has been iffy at best in standing starts and comes in fresh, having not raced for seven weeks.
Even at his peak he could face sitting back for at least the first half of the race and then driver Blair Orange will have to make a decision whether to take off knowing the lead will almost certainly not be there, or swoop late, which has never been his style and rarely works in major Alexandra Park pacing races.
Purdon realises Bettor Twist faces the same problem and even as the last-start winner of the Queen Of Hearts she faces a brutal task against the older horses tonight.
"We all know how good she is and even before she went to Australia in November she was trialling well against the good open-class horses," says Purdon.
"But it does look a tricky race and a lot might depend on the tempo."
Five to watch at the Park
1. Bolt For Brilliance (R8, No 7): Wonderful trotter still developing. With no Sundees Son here he should be too good, especially as field composition should help him not disconnect from the back of the field, even from the 30m backmark.
2. True Fantasy (R5, No 4): Has done some stunning things on this track and few juvenile fillies could boast a placing like she produced last start.
3. B D Joe (R9, No 6): Won the Jewels last June beating tonight's favourite Krug fair and square. Has been aimed at this race and if he begins quickly and can get anywhere near the lead he will take catching.
4. Old Town Road (R2, No 6): Been explosive in three wins so far and clearly headed for a far better grade than he races in this afternoon. Multi anchor.
5. The Honey Queen (R7, No 1): Comes out of the Group 1 Queen of Hearts where she was third last start and has looked sharp in last two campaigns. Ace draw gives Tony Herlihy options.
