"That makes it a really attractive race. All three of the horses we own are eligible for the bonus," the trainer said.
McKay could have four runners in the Westbury Stud Northland Breeders Stakes with Antonio Lombardo, the stable star last term, also being set for the race along with Alvesta, while Newyork Bakerboy could push his case for a start in it if he lives up to expectations tomorrow.
McKay and his wife, Kim, share in the ownership of Estrato, Lozada and Antonio Lombardo with Christchurch businessman Trevor Luke - the same partnership which struck it lucky with triple group one winner Alamosa. The owners of Newyork Bakerboy include Sir Patrick Hogan, Peter Walker and Michael Stiassny, chairman of the NZ Racing Board.
Newyork Bakerboy, an Australian-bred son of Artie Schiller, was due to make his raceday debut at Taupo earlier this month, but he was a late scratching after rain caused the track to be downgraded.
"He's the most forward of the three I'm taking up to Ruakaka," McKay said.
"He had a jumpout last week and he went well. He shows a lot of promise."
Newyork Bakerboy will be ridden by Sam Spratt, who will also ride Estrato and Lozada. Spratt played her part in McKay's great result from the corresponding Ruakaka meeting last year being aboard a couple of his four winners on the day : Glownight Racer, Undisclosed, Artesia and Tabu Soro.
Estrato goes into tomorrow's contest with six raceday starts under his belt. The Stratum colt picked up two wins and two placings last season. He was third to stablemate Antonio Lombardo on debut at Ruakaka then trekked to Riccarton where he was successful, while his other win was in the listed Wentwood Grange Stakes at Te Rapa last December.
"Last campaign, he was really lazy in his work then come raceday he'd get into it. He's a different horse this time. It may have been growing pains that caused it last season. He's a bulky colt."
Estrato was eligible for the Magic Millions Classic on the Gold Coast and that was his target, but the trip didn't eventuate.
He ended his last campaign with a fifth to Antonio Lombardo in the Waikato Stud 2YO Classic at New Plymouth when McKay expected him to be hardest to beat.
"The track turned out to be worse than I thought and he wasn't happy in it," he said.
Estrato's opposition tomorrow includes Precise, Fullavino, Society Lady, Duckworth Lewis and Pocket Diary.
Precise looked smart last campaign with a win and a second from two starts for trainer Linda Laing.
Lozada is also by Estrato's sire Stratum and has shown promise, having run second on the sand at the Counties trials on August 9
"He went quite well. I did think about taking him back to the trials at Cambridge but it will probably be too wet. He's better going to Ruakaka."
Meanwhile, McKay is satisfied that he will get both Antonio Lombardo and Alvesta to the Westbury Stud Northland Breeders' Stakes next month.
"Antonio Lombardo was going to go to Wanganui, but it's better he runs at Ruakaka next month. He let himself down a bit at the trials at Te Teko [on August 2] when he was a bit on the fresh side. He hit the front of the gates and had a blood nose."
Antonio Lombardo looked smart last season when recording three wins and three seconds from nine starts. He is a past winner at Ruakaka, having scored on the track last September, and his other wins were both in stakes races.
Unbeaten in three trials, Alvesta had his second raceday start at the recent Taupo meeting and finished fourth, 6 lengths from the winner.
"I'm disappointed in myself for starting him. I should have scratched him when it rained. Sam [Spratt] said he didn't really handle it when he won in the wet at the Te Teko trials. She said he was ducking and diving."
