Weight and barrier draws are going to play a big part in the result of the $125,000 DHL Counties Cup at Pukekohe tomorrow.
So much so that traditional form might be important, but not crucial.
Ginga Dude sits there on 58kg topweight and that may not be his biggest problem,
but it will be difficult.
Ginga Dude is a class act.
He was hampered by his main danger tomorrow, Boundless in the home straight when the pair last met in the weight-for-age race at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup Day.
It was mentioned in the stewards' report that he had trouble clearing Boundless in the home straight as she hung badly to her left-hand side.
Three-quarters of a length and half a length separated Boundless and Ginga Dude in that race and with the weight differential the same this time there is unlikely to be much between them again.
Barrier draws are this time crucial: Boundless No 6 and Ginga Dude No 17, so the first 300m of the race will be very interesting.
With his 58kg topweight, Ginga Dude cannot afford to cover too much extra ground through the race.
Sand Hawk will play a big role.
He has returned from Australia, where his form was good at times.
He won over 2500m at Moonee Valley on September 30, which followed a win at Ellerslie before leaving.
The interesting point is that in the weight-for-age race at Ellerslie, Sand Hawk carried 59kg and drops this time to 56kg.
