KEY POINTS:
Vickezzchardonnay's reputation on rain-affected tracks is a misnomer.
Co-trainer Murray Baker says he does not want any more rain in New Plymouth for tomorrow's $80,000 Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup.
But if the track remained at the good 3 it was rated yesterday, or even if it went to
4, it would suit his mare perfectly.
"I just don't want the track getting bad," said Baker.
Vickezzchardonnay is small but gutsy.
She did remarkably well to shoulder 58kg to win at Ellerslie two starts back and Baker believes she was unlucky not to have gone close to winning when fourth to Megapins in the Wellington Cup.
"I gave her a week off after Wellington and she's ticking over nicely."
Vickezzchardonnay is still an entry in the $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup and a big effort tomorrow would go a long way towards seeing her competitive in that race.
Heracles is due a win for trainer Jakki Good.
He has been running great races, hitting the line hard in each of them and looks very competitive with the minimum weight.
Spectacular Icon did not have a lot to spare when he won at Te Rapa last start, but he had worked into the clear a little late and did well.
A big plus for him is that he has had three starts at New Plymouth for two wins and a placing and his dead track form of three wins and two placings from eight starts is excellent should the track be playing that way.
Prince Kaapstad and Marty Boy are well up to winning, although their most recent efforts have been a shade below their best.
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The midweek rain is music to the ears of Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie.
Ritchie has Bear Heart in the $75,000 Ford 2YO Classic at New Plymouth and had been hoping for rain - but not too much.
"He's coming back from a break and I wouldn't want to see the track get very testing, even though he won his first start on a heavy track. He's drawn the inside so I'd like to see the footing with just the cut out of it so the rail holds up.
"He can handle an off track, but his lack of racing might come into play if it got too wet."
The track was rated officially a good 3 last night.
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The Baker stable sent Fully Fledged to Sydney earlier this week and he runs in tomorrow's A$100,000 ($124,000) Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick.
"He actually didn't travel all that well, but he's picked up in the last day or so," said Murray Baker.
Fully Fledged will be ridden by former South African Glen Schofield.