Emerging types Allsortsafun, Viadana and Massive Night are all on the verge of another win. A handicap sex allowance gives a slight edge to Viadana, who popped up in a couple of strong special conditions events last campaign. She jumps to 1600m quickly from her unlucky sixth fresh-up over 1200m at Tauranga, but that shouldn't be an issue the way she races. Massive Night was rated good enough to tackle the group two Wellington Guineas two starts back but was tripped up by the heavy track. Next up at Te Rapa, the race wasn't run to suit, though she did close nicely for fifth. With early speed on, expect her to be roaring home late, as she did when quitting maidens impressively at Te Awamutu three starts back. Pins gelding Allsortsafun finished resolutely at Aroha for third and should find the 1600m to his liking.
LEG TWO
This one shapes as an intriguing battle between local brother and sister apprentices Alysha and Jason Collett. Take the stress out of the equation and include both: Alysha aboard Sarsarun, trained by father Richard, and Jason on likely favourite C'est Magnifique. Nothing went Sarsarun's way last time out in an open 1600m at Te Rapa on October 24. He would prefer a little more give in the track than he is going to get, but goes too well here (5-2-2) to drop on that score. C'est Magnifique, an early favourite for the Dunstan Feed Championship Final at Ellerslie on January 1, will run a big 1600m at this stage of his preparation.
LEG THREE
Give costly last-start failure My My Maree one more shot from this dream spot in the handicap. She's not far off stakes company when right and may have just needed one more run now she's a year older. You'd prefer this to be 1600m - she won impressively here over that trip last December - but the smallish field helps and there are enough on-pace runners to set up the right tempo. Beyond Desire meets My My Maree 2.5kg worse off than when a close-up second this course and distance on November 19, but will have taken enormous benefit from the run. She's a smart type destined for bigger things.
LEG FOUR
Last-start stakes winner Mygoodgrace is beautifully positioned at the weights with just 53.5kg. From her inside alley she should get the perfect trip for rider Jason Collett trailing Three Wishes on the fence. She's lengths better since the hood went on and this is her pet distance (8-4-3). Fresh-up local Alegrio has the ability to test but has to concede the Ruakaka mare 4kg. Singapore Sling is not easy to catch, but comes into this off a nice trial win at Cambridge on November 9.
LEG FIVE
The lightly tried Juggernaut Rock can reduce the outlay here. His last-start effort for second to Cap Ferrat over this distance at Matamata last week was enormous considering he didn't get the most economical trip. His high-class dam Frenetic was one of the best racemares of the mid-1990s over this trip. Her highlights included wins in the listed Jim & John Evans Metric Mile on this course, the feature group two mile at Ellerslie over the New Year Carnival and the group three Highview Stakes at Te Rapa.
LEG SIX
Master Zenno had the look of a next-up winner when closing late on this course over 1400m on November 19. The step up to 1600m should suit and he has also run his best races here, placing in each of his three appearances. Local Flexman and improving filly Vaayala appeal as back-ups. There was little between them when placed second and third last time out over 1580m at Te Awamutu behind Roydon.
