As improved as Rocker Band and Arden's Choice are, Dream About Me is favourite for the Auckland Cup so should be able to sit parked and win.
The same could be said for Ultimate Machete in the Alabar Classic, where he not only has barrier two but has simply looked too strong for all of his rivals tonight, with Jack's Legend drawn to chase him hard along with More The Better.
Tonight's Franklin Cup brings together most of the other Auckland Cup contenders but Titan Banner looks to have gone to another level judging by his come-from-last win in the Summer Cup last Friday.
As a relatively inexperienced open class pacer he is not well handicapped off 20m so is no good thing but the All Stars have group one-winning back up in Chase The Dream, who was enormously unlucky at Methven last start.
With it being a standing start and the likes of Tiger Tara, Locharburn, Christen Me and even No Doctor Needed having shown enough this season to suggest they can win at their peak, it is one race where the All Stars could be vulnerable. Maybe.
The first serious 2-year-old race of the season is a red flag race for All Stars followers because while they usually win the Young Guns Final their reps have been beaten in early season heats in recent years so tread carefully with Spankem and Arden's Winstar in race four.
There has been plenty to like about the Robert Dunn-trained pair of The Brooklyn Brawler (races) and Alta Maestro (workouts), while Ocean Ridge and The Bus add real depth to a tricky race for punters.
But it is two other southern teams who look the best chance of successfully playing Beat The All Stars tonight.
Marcoola has emerged as the best trotter racing in the country after Monbet was sidelined, pushing the champ hard in the NZ Free-For-All at Addington and slaying his rivals at Methven last start.
He doesn't face an easy task from the second line in the Lyell Creek tonight but appears to have a speed edge over most of his rivals, with Quite A Moment, impressive trialist Bordeaux and the recent All Stars transferee Arya his greatest dangers.
If the best version of Marcoola isn't unlucky he should still win for trainer-driver Clint Ford but the TAB's $1.35 opening quote was unpalatable.
The $75,000 Peter Breckon Memorial looks a two-horse race between arch rivals Spanish Armada and Delightful Memphis, with the latter getting the ace draw, one driver Blair Orange intends using.
"There is no point us handing up to Spanish Armada because then there would be no pressure and she would win," says Orange.
"So we will be staying in front and if she can sit parked outside us and beat us then that will be how it is.
"But my filly has plenty of speed so I think we can win."
As good as Spanish Armada is, Delightful Memphis has shown in the past she can beat her when she gets a better run so might be worth backing if she gets to $2.20-$2.40 tonight.
Premier Park punts
• Multi anchor: Ultimate Machete (R5, No 1): Is starting to look something special, should lead and win.
• Well placed: Walkinshaw (R9, No 12): Thrown in here and can overcome second line draw.
• Improver: Arya (R6, No 1): Been luckless this spring, joins the big barn and ace draw makes her great place bet.
