St Emilion's super spring form rocketed him to the top of the handicaps and he has a formidable task on Sunday with clear topweight of 60.5kg. The ugly No 22 barrier position probably does not come into play because St Emilion is an on-pace runner and is at his best when leading.
Opie Bosson has close to a 500m straight run to the bend out to get over in front of the field and take up the pace, if that is his intention.
The weight will make the 60.5kg pretty tough late in the contest, but he has plenty of fight about him and won't give in easily.
Baker said no firm plan had yet been formulated to counteract Lizzie L'Amour's very wide barrier, but suggested it probably will not be to drop to the tail of the field in the first 200m.
"She can run well from mid-field and that long run to the first bend will help if that's the option that's taken."
Lizzie L'Amour won the Waikato Cup with petrol to spare after copping a cosy run from an inside barrier. More luck will be required here, but she deserves to be equal favourite and if she gets favours she is the one to beat.
A suspected spider bite put an and to Fanatic's Melbourne spring campaign, but she bounced back with an eye-catching 2100m win on the second day of the Te Rapa meeting.
Like Lizzie L'Amour she comes into this very well on the minimum 53kg. She, too, has drawn badly and she may have therefore lost her chance of taking up a handy position without having to work in the opening 400m.
Similarly, if she gets the right sort of run she is an absolute danger.
Megablast ran a beaut in the Waikato Cup, stumbling early and running on strongly into third a couple of lengths from Lizzie L'Amour. He has shown a preference for give in the footing -- the Te Rapa track was nice and dead -- but will almost certainly have to contend with a much firmer surface this time. If he handles that he will figure here.
Nymph Monte finished only fifth in the New Zealand Cup as the $1.80 favourite, but the dead track probably did not suit and it could be that he is just not a 3200m horse.
He has freshened nicely and put in some nice late strides over the too-short 1400m weight-for-age at Awapuni last start. He has got to his weight at 56.5kg, but looks a good each-way chance.
Marciano and Snow Secret are emerging stayers at this level. Even though Matt Cameron was easing Lizzie L'Amour down in the closing 100m in the Waikato Cup, Snow Secret looked good sticking on well.
?Matamata trainer Ken Kelso agrees with yesterday's Herald story about the barrier draws for the $200,000 Sistema Railway. "It said Bev and I would have a missed a heart beat when we saw Perfect Fit draw barrier No 13 and Irish Moon No 15, and that's what happened.
"But, you sit down and think about it and it's not the end of the world."
Ken Kelso thinks Perfect Fit can win despite her awkward gate. "She's explosive out of the barriers and can then fight well when you ask for a late effort.
"She was very impressive with her exhibition gallop at Tauranga races and we are very, very happy with her since then."
Yesterday, at the Matamata track the Kelsos received some confidence from former champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan. "Lance said he'd won two Railways from outside barriers and not to get too hung up on it. I've convinced myself the barrier is not the end of the story."
Michael Coleman, who knows Perfect Fit very well, has the job of finding the right run inn the opening 300m. Craig Grylls has a similar problem with Irish Moon.
"He's very much a go-forward horse so it's a shame he's out when he is, but he'll jump and run and take his luck."
Ryan Mark won this race 12 months ago, assisted by rain on the day. He won't get that this time, although he is so honest and classy he will run some sort of race.
The horse to beat is Snowdrop, lucky enough to come up with the No 1 gate. She was narrowly run down late on Boxing Day, but needed the run and has taken a fitness edge out of that race. She will give a good sight here.
Veteran Natuzzi showed he still has it by flashing home late to score here in the first week on December. He is at his best in these fast-run races and is suited again this time.
The interesting runner is Start Wondering, who showed he had come back from a bleeding attack when trained by Chris Waller in Sydney when he bolted in first-up at Te Rapa. Forget his last appearance when a wet track at Otaki brought him undone. From an inside gate he will take beating.
Punting pointers
Classy and getting better: Sacred Shot (R1, Ellerslie): Only three career starts, but looks the goods. Wide draw an issue, but good enough to overcome it.
Headliner all the way: Romancer (R5, Ellerslie). Beaten on debut, but hasn't looked back since. This should be three on the trot.
A win finally: Hiflyer (R10, Ellerslie). Backed and beaten this preparation, but that won't last.
