It would take a mountain of research to see if the Wellington Cup has been won by a one-win horse.
But it's a safe bet it hasn't been achieved in modern history as Resolution is trying to change in tomorrow's feature race.
Until recent years when the depthof our stayers - not necessarily the class at the top - thinned out, a one-win horse had absolutely zero chance of making the field.
To be fair, Resolution isn't your typical one-win animal.
He was 1.8 lengths off Redoute's Dancer in the Mercedes Derby, threequarters of a length away from Empire's Choice in fourth in the Queensland Derby and then a luckless third in the recent group one Avondale Cup.
And as good as all of those runs was his last-start sixth to Delbrae at Manawatu where he was badly hampered in the run home. He is the one the favourite Pasta Post could find most difficult late in the race.
Like many, John Sargent puts on a brave face, but his heart must have been downcast when he lost the services of fine mare Everswindell in last Saturday's Trentham Stakes.
Sargent can still win the Cup though with Young Centaur, who has always looked as if he would steadily graduate to this level.
He lumped 58kg to a gallant win at Awapuni last start and although the class is up this time, he has previously shown he can measure up. The 53.5kg will help.
Mirkola Lass, so game in narrow defeat last year, and the re-emerging Three Chimneys rate in the mix behind Pasta Post. Three Chimneys' weight-for-age effort to finish second to Xcellent last week held merit and he is still improving.
