"If he does so, then yes he will be right in contention. We're happy with the way he has come through his heat," said Brendon Cole.
The other two heats were stylishly taken out by a pair of smart Craig Roberts-trained litter brothers.
Allen Ablett won the Group 1 Spion Rose Cup at Hatrick last month and he is poised to again make his presence felt in this event following his 30.05s heat win.
It is the professional manner that this bloke goes about his tasks that impresses.
"I was real happy with his heat win, especially the way he responded when he got slightly held up on the final turn," said Roberts about his charge, who will be wearing the white racing vest (three).
"He is really well heading into Friday."
Roberts produced Dirk Bale to deliver his heat win in 29.95s.
Dirk Bale used his known early pace from the one trap to lead throughout.
He must use the same tactics from trap seven.
"His early pace is his main asset and he can lead them all-the-way if he leads into the first turn," said Roberts.
"I'm happy with the way he pulled up after last week."
The enigma in this field is the brilliant, but at times slow starter Nature's Gent, from the Angela Turnwald kennels.
There's no doubting the raw ability the current NZ Cup title holder holds.
It is his starting manners that concerns.
He walked from the traps in his heat from where he flew home late for his heat third.
"He has the draw [two], he has a speed dog drawn inside him, so hopefully he can slot in just behind the early pace and then use his strength during the run home," said Paul Freeman.
Illustrating the strength of this field is the presence of the two Karen Walsh-mentored contenders.
It would be foolhardy to ignore the stakes claims held by her smart pair of chasers Thrilling Raider and Ridin' Shotgun.
