KEY POINTS:
Yes, on paper the task of Three Chimneys in tomorrow's $75,000 Cambridge Thorougbred Sales Wanganui Cup looks formidable.
The topweight has an extremely wide barrier draw in a quality field.
But it would be unwise to write Three Chimneys off because of those factors alone.
They are balanced
by the fact Three Chimneys has had seven starts at Wanganui for four wins.
And who could forget the truly remarkable winning run by the veteran stayer to win a similar race to this last start when coming back from a seven-month break.
That was on October 18. He carried 58kg topweight, got back and became the widest runner on the home bend - and proceeded to bury his opposition.
The master stroke tomorrow is that trainer David Haworth has given him six weeks to recover from that effort.
The 8-year-old Three Chimneys has been unsound for much of his career and might have achieved even great things over the longer distances if he's been born with four good legs.
"He's a great old horse and he deserves another bit win like this race," Ha worth said.
You can make a strong case for half a dozen of the main chances.
One could be southern mare Ombre Rose, who suddenly drops down a grade after chasing the best stayers in her current campaign.
Finishing 13th in last week's Counties Cup may not sound impressive, but it wasn't the worst run in the race. Pukekohe produced a fierce on-speed bias last week and Ombre Rose was probably little chance from early on.
To be 7.5 lengths from winner Gallions Reach was a good trial for a much easier option tomorrow.
Antipodean is interesting. He is best known as a short-course horse but managed to stretch his form to 2100m with a nice win at Manawatu last start.
He likes to race on the speed so there appears little option from his very wide gate but to go forward early.
Matamata Cup winner Agamemnon tailed the field behind Prince Kaapstad at Ellerslie at his only subsequent start, but is likely to be better suited here.
He definitely has the speed to cross the field from out wide before the first bend and he looks a strong upset chance.
Pinmdown looked a potential next-up winner when he resumed with a half-head defeat in the hands of Royal Duke at Awapuni last start and looks an oustanding bet in the Carters-Gib 1340.