KEY POINTS:
Course stats are important at Rotorua.
Kristov, the winner of nearly half a million dollars, you might notice, has not won at Rotorua and got beaten in one-win grade there.
But that was a long time ago - 14 wins ago, in fact.
Kristov is a much different horse these days and he's out to prove it in tomorrow's $70,000 Platinum Homes Stakes.
The key to the race is the weight-for-age scale. Kristov carried 58.5kg in winning a handicap two weeks ago and is much better off on essentially the same weight as the opposition this time.
Part owner and trainer Phillip Stevens is happy going into the race - provided there is no significant rain in the next 24 hours.
"You can never afford to get confident, but I don't see it as an overly strong field," said Stevens.
"Sir Slick's been racing well, but if Kristov is close to his best, it's a fairly easy option."
Regular jockey Opie Bosson is riding at Riccarton tomorrow and his replacement Reese Jones was happy with the horse's work at Matamata this week.
"Reese rode in on the course proper and declared him very well," said Stevens. "I just hope the rain stays away. We don't want to see him running on a wet track."
Sir Slick, who just keeps surprising, looks to be tough to beat.
He was beaten only half a length and half a head by Jury's Out and Rosina Lad at weight-for-age at Hastings last start. Before that he was only 2.2 lengths from winner Legs in the $1 million Kept Capital Stakes and three back he was four lengths off Seachange in the Stoney Bridge.
Form like that deserves a break.
If Kristov leads as he did last start, Sir Slick is the type to sit right on his case from the outset and be there to annoy the favourite early in the home straight.
The mares Madame Shinko, Molta, Cape Princess and last week's winner Ritzy Lady are in with a shout.
Madame Shinko doesn't win out of turn, but when she puts it together she is dynamic. She has had only one 1200m sprint this preparation and should find the 1550m perfect at this point of her campaign.
Madame Shinko was placed at her only start at Rotorua, which could be important.
Cape Princess was making good ground last start and also three starts back on this course behind Zilzie. Her form looks a touch mixed on paper, but there is no denying her talent.
Ritzy Lady is being aimed at next week's Counties Cup. She raced a little dour at the end of 1600m when winning at Te Rapa last weekend and there is a small question mark over her being sharp enough for this slightly shorter trip a week later.
