KEY POINTS:
There'll be nowhere to hide when the field turns for home in today's $150,000 Whakanui Stud International at Te Rapa.
Sir Slick will have run the sprint out of most of the runners and whoever chases him down in the final 300m will have to run through a
significant pain barrier.
Sharvasti has shown she can do just that. The finishing effort, in difficulties, to take the Avondale Cup was spectacular and while everyone loved to see the popular and now deceased Mikki Street win the group-one Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on January 1, Sharvasti was equally gallant in finishing second.
John Sargent is a wonderful big-race trainer and when he says he's extremely happy with where Sharvasti is going into this race, it's all you need to know.
Sharvasti has a very quick, dramatic sprint, which is a solid weapon against Sir Slick.
Give Sir Slick the opportunity to establish a break, then fight alongside a rival, and he's liable to start breaking hearts.
If Noel Harris has Sharvasti within two lengths at the 300m it will take a very smart performance to hold her out.
They'll cheer the grandstand down if Sir Slick takes this. He has been unplaced in his two attempts beyond 1600m, but he wasn't in the same form he's in at the moment on either occasion.
Kingsinga is probably badly off in the weights against some of these at weight-for-age, but there is no denying his ability, and Kerry O'Reilly has the form background to be a threat.
Kerry O'Reilly fought hard for second against Envoy in the Trentham Stakes last start.
If patience is the virtue they say it is Charliehorse (No 1, R1) is on the start of an outstanding run of form. He looked as good as any of the 3-year-olds last season before he started beating himself with waywardness.
Charliehorse scored a remarkably easy fresh-up win in this class at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and will carry only 2kg more in this race. He Kin Danske (No 5) is classy, but he might have a job on his hands with the favourite.
John Sargent has been patient with Young Centaur (No 2, R2) and that will eventually pay big staying dividends. He won nicely at Trentham and although up in class, he rates highly again.
Far Too Much (No 1, R3) will probably start favourite here. He's smart and has had no luck, particularly his last start in the Duoro Cup, but the 57.5kg is a slight concern against the 54.5kg of a real up-and- comer in Darringdo. The outside gate will not help Darringdo at the 2000m barrier, but he has Leith Innes to help. Darringdo each way if the odds stack up. Gallions Reach should be somewhere in the trifecta.
Jazzella (No 10, R4) looked so remarkable on a couple of occasions last season that it erases memories of her below-par third last July at her last appearance before a spell. She was never in top gear to win a barrier trial at Pukekohe recently and if she is going to come back to top form she will go close from an inside gate today.
This is a very competitive race.
There is so much talent in the Sir Tristram Classic that luck in running is going to play a huge role. Difficult to see how Princess Coup (No 1, R5) can have a lot of bad luck from the No 6 gate and her finish in the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham showed her to be heading to the next level. Post Thyme (No 10) is New Zealand's unluckiest racehorse. She might prove that again from the No 13 draw today, but if she gets a sniff of good fortune, don't be surprised to see her dashing into it. Veloce Bella (No 2), Velvet And Satin and Santagostino (No 3) are among a whole range of chances.
Orpheus (No 8, R6) raced wide at Trentham last start but was still a little disappointing in finishing eighth, but was so stylish finishing third the time before that he's worth another try. China White (No 2) is not far off a win.
It will be a brave punter who bets too much against Darci Brahma (No 1, R9) in the $150,000 Waikato Draught Sprint. Okay, he was a beaten hot favourite in this race a year ago, but everything points to him making up for that today. He's the best horse, ridden by the best jockey.
Jokers Wild (No 9) is the interesting runner. He should run a blinder, but to match Darci Brahma's class in his first race in a couple of months should be just a little too tough. Imananabaa (No 10) can run a big race with her weight advantage.
Vosne Romanee (No 1, R10) looks the real deal on his dominating Trentham win last start. He's got 58kg, but as a two-win horse he's not badly off. Cagney (No 3) similarly has plenty of ability.