The five-year-old gelding will jump from barrier one with regular rider Leah Hemi aboard and the only concern Eade has is the month between runs.
"He is very good and very well in himself. The only problem I have got is that he hasn't had a run for a month. But I did give him a trial, so hopefully that was enough. There are some good horses in there, like Tommy Tucker. He won't get everything his own way. There are two or three leaders there and it's going to be tough enough."
Eade hasn't made any set plans with Orepuki Lad after today's assignment, but is contemplating taking his gelding to Riccarton in a fortnight.
"We'll see how he goes and we'll just take it step-by-step," he said. "There is a race for him at Christchurch in a fortnight, but we will just see how he goes on Saturday."
Meanwhile, the father and son training partnership will line-up two other runners at their home meeting today. Consistent galloper Sentient will step up to open company for the first time when he contests the Waiau Hotel Aparima Handicap (1200m), while stablemate Ruakiwi Blaze will tackle the Speight's & Pankhurst Sawmilling Porakino Handicap (1600m).
"Sentient, he's a bit of a bridesmaid," Eade said. "He's had about five seconds and he has been carrying a lot of weight.
"We couldn't get into the [rating] 72, so we have put him in the open handicap, which is a big call.
"He's down in weight to 54kg, where he was carrying 59.5kg. He's a good bread and butter horse.
"Ruakiwi Blaze, she's a small wee thing, just like a pony, but she is another one that does her best and will be right there."
- NZ Racing Desk
