The face of the $35,000 Great Northern Foal Stakes could change dramatically overnight.
The warm favourite Habana is under offer to Hong Kong and if the money arrives overnight he will not run.
If there is a delay or the deal is called off, Habana will start something like a
$2.20 favourite.
The track that Habana won on at Te Rapa on April 29 was wet and made for tough going, but Te Rapa is an entirely different type of wet weather surface to Ellerslie.
Tomorrow Habana will have to show he can manage a track that is traditionally wet and heavy.
A band of rain is forecast to sweep through tomorrow morning and that may not be the worst result - the babies would prefer the footing loose with rain on the day.
After a series of minor placings chasing the country's best juveniles around, Habana finally broke through for his maiden win at Te Rapa last time.
Bianca is the quick improver.
She finished second to Chartreuse in the relocated New Zealand Bloodstock Stakes at Te Rapa, an effort that showed a filly of real promise.
"When they re-located that race from the abandoned Avondale meeting, we had only three days notice and it meant she went into the race with absolutely no experience of galloping left-handed," said trainer Don Dwyer.
"Reese [Jones] said she was on one rein the whole way, which made her effort pretty good."
Back to right-handed racing this time, Bianca looks a trifecta must.
Matata has yet to win, but she has turned in some smart efforts in strong fields. The result will be decided by whatever handles the conditions best.
