KEY POINTS:
Murray Baker may not have needed further evidence that Nom Du Jeu has gone the right way since a brilliant first-up win, but if he did he got it yesterday morning.
Nom Du Jeu looked outstanding in running away from the opposition at Te Rapa two weeks ago.
Horses can sometimes race a little flat at their second race after a spell, but the AJC Derby winner showed no indication of that when he produced a dashing gallop at Cambridge yesterday morning.
Working with fellow stablemate and race rival Rios, Nom Du Jeu finished one and a half lengths in front.
"The clocker got him running home in a bit worse than 36, but I didn't get him doing it that fast," said Baker.
"I had him running closer to 38.1 for the 600.
"I clocked him at 1.18 and a bit for the 1200m."
But given the overnight rain, it was sparkling work by Nom Du Jeu and Baker was not disappointed with Rios.
"He's pretty laid back in his trackwork."
Baker has a small, niggling doubt that the 1600m trip this time might just be a touch short for Nom Du Jeu, despite the way he was able to race handy and show plenty of dash over the Te Rapa 1400m .
"I don't know, but there's a small chance the race might be a bit sharp for him," he said.
The wide draw is also a concern.
Nom Du Jeu draw barrier No 5 and enjoyed the perfect trail behind the leaders at Te Rapa, but won't get into that spot from what will be gate No 12 if there are no scratchings.
Baker is losing no sleep over that.
"Sometimes you're better off out there than drawn in close - you're out of trouble in races like this."
Certainly, for a horse like Nom Du Jeu that enjoys plenty of galloping room, drawn inside the first four gates would have been disastrous. There is a very short run to the first bend from the 1600m barrier at Hastings and the chances are he would have been tightened up inside runners early, leaving Noel Harris the job of extracting him at some point.
Harris couldn't believe the dash a much stronger Nom Du Jeu displayed at Te Rapa compared to the lanky, weakish colt he was when Harris last rode him as a 3-year-old last season.
And Harris is almost certainly going to have to use some of that dash to get around runners at some point.
Baker echoes the thoughts of most when he says the field is so strong he doesn't know where to look for the dangers.
"It shows the depth of class of last season's 3-year-olds - they were a great bunch of horses and the form has held up."
Rios has improved since his similarly dashing near-last-to-first victory at Hastings last start.
"His fitness has improved with that first run and he's unbeaten at Hastings," Baker said.
Late yesterday Nom Du Jeu was the $4.80 second favourite behind Fritzy Boy at $3.80.
Trainer John Sargent is expecting a big run from Red Ruler.
The AJC Derby runner-up to Nom Du Jeu turned in a big first-up fourth over a sprint distance at Tauranga last month.
"He's gone to the next level with that effort," said Sargent. "If we get a good track he's going to be right in the firing line."
Sargent said he would like to see Red Ruler go forward a fraction early.
"If Jason [Waddell] can get him one off the rail somewhere it'll be perfect. I think Fritzy Boy and Princess Coup are probably going to be the two to beat."
Last night's TAB odds: $3.80 Fritzy Boy; $4.80 Nom Du Jeu; $6 Princess Coup; $8.50 Red Ruler; $10 Bulginbaah; $11 Rios, Diamond Deck; $18 Prince Kaapstad, Keepa Cruisin; $21 Ombre Rose, Insociant; $26 Sterling Prince; $28 The Pooka; $31 Magic Cape; $41 Mufhasa; $51 Run Like Al.
BIG FINISH
* Brilliant first-up winner Nom Du Jeu showed with his gallop at Cambridge yesterday he's going to be hard to beat again.
* The 1600m distance is not ideal for the AJC Derby winner, says co-trainer Murray Baker, but he's bound to be strong at the finish.
* Fritzy Boy, Nom Du Jeu, Princess Coup and Red Ruler are the only runners inside $10.
* Trainer John Sargent expects a big run from Red Ruler.
