KEY POINTS:
A lack of gate speed could be the biggest handicap as Tosti Girl goes looking for justice at Addington tonight.
The 4-year-old mare finally makes it to the giant Christchurch track tonight, eight months after she could have cemented Filly of the Year honours there.
After winning the
Great Northern and New South Wales Oaks last summer, Tosti Girl only needed to win either the New Zealand Oaks or Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington in May to earn the title of best filly.
But she missed those group ones because of a virus and arch-rival Western Dream captured both and the filly of the year trophy.
Tonight Tosti Girl takes the next step in her open class learning curve in the big time in the $50,000 Premier Mares' Championship.
After some solid and sometimes luckless summer performances she looks good enough to win if she can make the most of barrier one in the 1950m event, and co-trainer Brian Hughes knows that is a big if.
"It could be won or lost for her at the start," admitted Pukekohe-based Hughes.
"If she can stay handy and be no worse than the trail or three deep then she can win but if she ends up locked away on the markers it will be very hard on her."
Colin De Filippi will be the new driver responsible for eking some early speed out of Tosti Girl and she will need to show plenty as the front line contains some genuine speedsters.
One thing Hughes is not worried about heading into tonight's race is Tosti Girl's condition.
She finished a strong second to Highview Badlands at the Rangiora trials on Tuesday and he says her recent racing is bringing her to her peak.
"She travelled down well and she seems to be getting over a tying-up problem which has bothered her at times in this campaign. Her latest blood report was good and she is working well so I think you will see something like her best."
Her best could be good enough to win in a field lacking a genuine star with Mainland Banner sidelined.
Both Imagine That and Its Ella will be very hard to beat though as they are already proven in open class.
Its Ella was third in the New Zealand Cup in November and looked slightly below her best when chasing home Waitfornoone in the Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park last start.
Back at home on her favourite beach she may be more potent tonight.
Imagine That looked to have been flattened early in the season after some huge recoveries from early gallops in open class races but back against the mares she is always a force.
It wouldn't surprise to see her overcome her second line barrier draw, particularly if the pace is on.
The other highlight of tonight's meeting is the return of The Flyin Doctor, who is expected to be a run short of his best when he clashes with Monkey King in race one.