KEY POINTS:
Jeff Lynds walked the tightrope with Vosne Romanee last start and he's happy to admit it wasn't a successful bid.
That same scenario won't exist for today's $200,000 First Sovereign Trust 1600m weight-for-age at Otaki.
Lynds left the highly talented Vosne Romanee slightly underdone for the group one
Thorndon Mile at Trentham simply because he wanted the horse to be at peak form in late summer and through the autumn.
He thought he could get away with it in the Thorndon, but didn't.
Vosne Romanee went without a race from finishing second to Mufhasa in the Couplands Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on November 12 to the Thorndon on January 24.
He was sent out favourite in the Thorndon and although he wasn't suited by the stop-start tempo, he raced as if fractionally underdone in the closing stages, finishing fifth and 3.5 lengths astern of winner Sir Slick.
"He got a bit further back than I'd hoped, but overall I thought he went quite a nice race given the circumstances," said Lynds last night.
The Manawatu trainer feels Vosne Romanee is significantly sharper for today's big race.
Vosne Romanee was ridden in the Thorndon Mile by Michael Walker, who the previous week rode Sir Slick into third in the lead-up Anniversary.
David Walsh landed the Thorndon winning ride when Walker switched to Vosne Romanee.
Vosne Romanee will this time be ridden by Buddy Lammas.
Sir Slick has to be a major consideration despite finishing seventh of the 10 runners in the group one Whakanui Stud Stakes at Te Rapa following his popular Thorndon victory.
The million-dollar winner was clearly not helped by the dead track that day and David Walsh said he felt disinterested - even in his preliminary.
There was a lot more spark to him when he won two weeks earlier. He can certainly bounce back if he strikes his favourite firm track.
The Otaki track was yesterday rated at a dead 5, which would almost certainly improve with decent weather, but rain is forecast for today.
Culminate, the Rich Hill Mile winner at Ellerslie, is a big hope provided the track stays reasonable.
In keeping with her remarkably consistent form, the talented mare finished a close third to Sir Slick in the Thorndon Mile at her only subsequent start since Ellerslie.
She sits on the speed and fight extremely hard - the perfect profile for high-grade races at Otaki.
Her stablemate Keepa Cruisin is not the worst. She looked good finishing only 2.75 lengths from stablemate Mufhasa in the Waikato Draught Sprint last start at her first run back from a short break.
If the rain eventuates it's going to suit Fritzy Boy and Eel Win.
The way Mufhasa set up the speed in front in the Waikato Draught left little chance for natural back runners like Fritzy Boy.
He looked good making up a whole lot of territory from the back in the Telegraph when resuming and he looks better placed in this race where the speed will be completely different if the footing is rain-affected.
Eel Win faces significantly better class, but there's no doubting his courage - 26 times in the first three from 39 starts.
READY TO ATONE
* Look to Vosne Romanee to do a lot better for his supporters than when beaten favourite in the Thorndon Mile.
* Trainer Jeff Lynds said the horse is a lot fitter for this.
* Rain is the concern for many runners, including Vosne Romanee.