Some of the best restricted age dogs from around the country will congregate in Cambridge on Thursday for heats of the $50,000 Group 1 Mike Stent Decorators New Zealand Derby.
Headline act Opawa Superstar has drawn Box 1 in the third and final heat, and he is currently priced up at $3 to win the final with TAB NZ.
It was only last month that the son of Fernando Bale and Opawa Tab won the Group 1 Auckland Cup, and he has now won his past six races straight. He'll be having his first look at the Cambridge track on Thursday, but this doesn't cause any concerns for co-trainer Dave Fahey.
"Having his first look at Auckland and Manawatu didn't worry him, so this shouldn't either," said Fahey, who trains with his wife, Jean.
"I'm expecting him to go a great race from the draw. He's travelling well and seems pretty good."