KEY POINTS:
Murray Baker is enjoying a great run but hasn't had a great number of 2-year-olds featuring this season.
Fully Fledged flew the stable flag highest despite a couple of speed bumps in the middle of his campaign and Bright Spark is doing a pretty decent job late in the season.
Bright Spark will attempt to complete a winning treble in tomorrow's $55,000 Simpson Grierson Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie.
"It's not easy winning three on end with any horse these days," said Baker yesterday.
Provided he handles the track conditions, Bright Spark appears as though he might have something on his 10 rivals.
Although a late-season bloomer on raceday, he impressed his trainer from the first time he was sent along at speed in the spring.
"He showed us plenty in the spring, but we decided not to race him then because he always looked as though he might be a better autumn horse."
And the Cambridge trainer knew he hadn't been mistaken about Bright Spark's ability when the youngster finished second to the very talented Altered Image at Avondale.
Since then he has finished fourth and scored two wins.
The only issue could be wet ground. The reading yesterday morning was 4.0 with showers forecast for Auckland tomorrow.
Bright Spark looked strong on the line when powering away from his opposition when winning easily at Matamata last start, but looks were deceiving.
"Michael [Coleman] said he wasn't very happy on the heavy track, but said he got away with it because of his class," said Baker.
If he handles it even reasonably well, Bright Spark's strength late in his races is what will make him extremely difficult to contain tomorrow.
Matamata trainer John Sargent has found the answer to Straitothepoolroom - right-handed racing.
After Straitothepoolroom was soundly beaten the left-handed way at Te Rapa and New Plymouth, Sargent switched him to the right-handed Paeroa and got the money nicely.
There was a second plus - the trainer applied blinkers for the first time.
Bright Spark will provide more formidable opposition than the Paeroa field, but in his favour is his ability to manage wet tracks.
"He's handled it before and I'm not that worried about the track," said Sargent yesterday.
Bright Spark and Straitothepoolroom are the only winners engaged.
Only three of the remainder have finished in a dividend-bearing placing.
That trio - Outtalimitz, Theruler and St Culpe -are all capable of winning a race soon.
Outtalimitz was beaten into second by 1.5 lengths on debut at Dargaville, finishing strongly and looking a definite improver.
Theruler hasn't been far away and he seemed to handle the slow track reasonably well when close up fourth to Kiwi Hussler at Awapuni last start.
TAB betting: $2.80 Bright Spark, $5.50 St Cuple, $6 Straitothepoolroom, $7 Outtalimitz, $12 Late Edition, Street Beat, $14 Theruler, Kruz Beckham, $15 It's A Message, $21 China Doll, $31 Lucy's Sister.
The TAB is taking no chances with the fresh-up run of The Fred Factor in tomorrow's $25,000 Professional Parents 1200.
The Fred Factor hasn't raced since September, but was opened up at $3 warm favourite yesterday, an obvious influence being his good fresh-up record.
Superalloy was the TAB's second favourite at $4.50. Last time he was backed and beaten when third, 5.25 lengths from the runaway winner Pindy at Matamata. A peak effort here would be enough to gain him victory.
Buena Venture, at $5, could be the one to beat. He will be greatly improved by his first-up effort at Matamata run and has an excellent record on wet tracks.
FOAL STAKES
* Bright Spark will be attempting to provide a winning treble for trainer Murray Baker.
* The strong-finishing youngster will be well suited by the jump to 1400m.
* Rain-affected footing is not ideal, but Bright Spark's class got him through a heavy track to victory at Matamata last start.
