There is only one question you need to ask before betting in tonight's Lyell Creek Stakes - is One Over Kenny back to her best?
The problem comes in the answer. Because driver and caretaker trainer Tony Herlihy isn't exactly sure.
One Over Kenny is our best trotter
but has had the worst preparation for tonight's $50,000 mobile.
A series of small problems have seen her race only once this season - when her condition blew out late when a fading eighth in the Dominion Handicap last month.
Since then she suffered another minor setback which required three stitches in a leg and she was inconvenienced by a bolting rival in her final public workout at Alexandra Park last Saturday.
All of which means her opponents at least have a chance tonight because if One Over Kenny was at her best with the advantage of her handy barrier draw she would win.
"I think she is close to the mark," said Herlihy, who has been looking after the great mare for the last 10 days.
"She felt great at the workouts last Saturday. She came off the gate quickly and was bolting before things went wrong with the horse in front of her.
"And she has worked well since. I am sure she will improve but she is so good she might be able to win anyway."
One Over Kenny was opened as only second favourite by the TAB behind local heroine Our Sunny Whiz, who will relish the return to Alexandra Park and mobile racing.
Our Sunny Whiz is more brilliant than her arch-rival but One Over Kenny has more stamina so the outcome could depend on the tempo of the race.
But the mares won't have it to themselves as Houdini Star has arrived as a genuine open class force.
He was a huge second in both the New Zealand Free-For-All and Dominion Handicap and follows out a fast beginner tonight in Iwi Alex so could settle handier than many expect.
* The best 3-year-old fillies clash in the Ladyship Stakes and even from her second line draw Susie Maguire is the one to beat.
