KEY POINTS:
Today's $30,000 Stanley Group 2000 at Matamata may not be the Auckland Cup guide many punters are looking for.
We've got a group of solid stayers prepared for the 3200m of the $700,000 SkyCity Auckland Cup as close as 10 days away, competing in a 2000m race on a sharpish track like Matamata.
It might throw up more questions than answers for the big race at Ellerslie.
Kingsinga is the $4 Auckland Cup favourite and a tight $2.60 to win today, but co-trainer Richard Collett is not exactly beaming with confidence about his chances.
Like a few of his Auckland Cup rivals he feels the 2000m distance may catch his horse out.
"He's obviously done some work since he last raced [for third to Sir Slick in the group one at Te Rapa] and he's done some mileage.
"In this sort of race he's obviously going to get back around Matamata, but he'll be storming into it late."
Pentane is the third favourite for the Auckland Cup at $5.50 - $7.50 today - and is facing the same scenario as Kingsinga.
So are Kerry O'Reilly ($13 at Ellerslie, $8.50 today), Envoy ($12 and $21) and Trebla ($41 and $51).
Last-start Te Rapa winner Gallions Reach is at $31 in the Auckland Cup and $12 today and probably has a touch more speed in his legs at this point than some of his rivals and is not out of contention.
The dangers this afternoon might be a couple that are not in at Ellerslie, Valley Chief and Lilakyn.
Valley Chief has not raced since his useful effort in the City Of Auckland Cup on January 1 and can race in a fresh state.
Lilakyn had a fresh-up run over 1600m last start and is a sharp improver.
* It's widely accepted that Derby Day at Flemington is one of the world's finest racedays.
It can be argued that the under card to today's A$1 million ($1.1 million) Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield is at least as good.
Forgetting the Blue Diamond for a moment, you have Australia's finest filly Miss Finland tackling the A$176,000 Armanasco, probably the best colt Haradason eyeballing the Victoria Derby winner Efficient in the A$125,000 Schwepervescence, a star-studded A$200,000 St George Stakes field which includes Pompeii Ruler, Tawqeet, Gallant Guru, Marasco, King Of Ashford and Aqua D'amore, gun Sydney sprinter Fast'n' Famous taking on the A$350,000 Oakleigh Plate and fresh-up winner Apache Cat facing off with outstanding form Kiwi galloper Sphenophyta in the A$125,000 Carlyon Cup.
That's breathtaking.
New Zealand mare Seachange gets a chance to set the scene for that raceday when she drops down a couple of class to tackle the A$125,000 Mannerism Stakes.
It was a much better effort than some gave her credit for in the Orr Stakes in Melbourne last start and she will find this easier even though she has clear topweight of 57.5kg and the outside barrier.
Fast'n' Famous will give the Oakleigh a real shake and don't disregard Sphenophyta fresh even though he is known as a stayer.
He is a good fresh horse and Lee Freedman is certain to have him tuned for this 1400m.
