While Christen Me hasn't shown dazzling gate speed previously he has raced often at Menangle where horses fly off the gate and he should be able to at least hold the other favourites wider, especially as it is so hard to cross horses right next to you.
From there trainer Cran Dalgety admits his star has to win.
"This is his race," said Dalgety.
"He has come through his hard run the other day well and I am confident he can hold the other two at the start.
"And then if they can sit parked outside us and beat us I'd be surprised.
"So while you can never be cocky, I am confident."
A sustained-speed 1950m looks perfect for Christen Me and even though he opened the $3.50 second favourite with the TAB yesterday, he should start tote favourite today.
Terror To Love's co-trainer Paul Court concedes Christen Me has the advantage.
"We are dictated to by what he does early but I am sure Dexter [Dunn, driver] doesn't want us to get in front of him. So we will have to go off
the gate and then hope for some cover."
Terror To Love has rarely been asked to back up so quickly and was disappointing by his high standards in the Cup, even though he had the minor excuse of striking his sulky wheels with his back legs.
"It was the exact same sulky he won the Cup in last year set up exactly the same way so we still don't know what the problem was," said Court.
"But we will put the sulky a little further back this time and he should be fine."
If Terror To Love can cross to the lead early he would probably win but that looks doubtful so he may rely on getting a sit behind the likes of Adore Me or Franco Nelson if they go forward.
He can add to his amazing Addington record but luck is now a factor for him.
Adore Me was so magnificent on Tuesday she can obviously win again and two scratchings reducing the field to 10 starters helps if she is to settle off the speed.
The harder they go the better it will suit her but she does face a tougher task having to come from behind the boys over the shorter distance.
Franco Nelson was wonderful in the Cup and will relish the short trip, with the two scratchings inside him maybe enough to convince driver John Dunn to try for the lead early, which could change the complexion of the race.
Add in past winners Gold Ace and Pembrook Benny, new national record-holder Messini, after his impressive win on Tuesday, and Bit Of A Legend and the race is one of the deepest sprints ever staged in New Zealand.
All the stars on show
- Christen Me has drawn to advantage at Addington today.
- He is inside Terror To Love and Adore Me in the NZ Free-For-All.
- Stent is favourite for the $200,000 Dominion Trot
