"No, she's a very easy filly. Everything she does she does with ease, so she won't be concerned about having to go around two bends in the race for the first time. We won't be pushing her early, she'll relax where she jumps and we'll take it from there."
This will be a great race. The form Baker/Forsman stable have Saavoya, Charmont and De Kensington Oval engaged and Peter and Dawn Williams have an equally talented pair in Vavasour and Palace Rock.
Murray Baker has always had a big opinion of Saavoya and and says the strong-finishing Charmont will be a lot handier than she was early when finishing well into third in the Royal Stakes last start.
"She drew wide this time and has a better barrier here."
Baker warns that De Kensington Oval is underrated. "She was just coming into it [in the Royal Stakes] when she was brought down in the home straight. We think she is a smart filly." Vavasour will be suited by racing handy and Palace Rock got too far back early in last week's Waikato Guineas, but is likely to be handier here.
She Is Stryking (No3, R2) is a filly of real promise. Her last two placed runs have been in stakes company and she reverts here to a field of maidens.
Just as important she has drawn No2, which should provide her with the run of the race. She was just 1.9 lengths from talented Showboy at Trentham last start, which would take this race.
Race 3 is tough, but the way Seize The Moment (No3) dashed away from the opposition at Trentham last start puts him right in this race. He has drawn well and should enjoy the run of the race. Lots of chances, but a lazy ticket in multiples on Klitschko (No4) might not go astray. He goes well when fresh.
Special conditions races are always tricky because horses come from different formlines. Hvala (No3, R4) looked really good winning on debut at Ruakaka then when looking beaten at Avondale subsequently she rallied and won well. This is only fractionally tougher than that. Pipi Beel (No7) is one of the most impressive maiden winners of recent months, the last 350m being accomplished in huge time. Then you have Endean Rose (No5) who came from last to finish close up in a fast-run 1400m at Ellerslie last start. The step to 1600m is going to suit her.
Shuka (No1, R7) has the right barrier draw to make up for his narrow defeat in this group one race last year. His Zabeel Classic run last start was just okay but he is a much better horse left-handed and he has never been able to produce his best at Ellerslie.
You cannot deny the form of Zabeel Classic winner Soriano (No6), racing in the best form of her career. Ponderosa Miss (No8) is the wildcard.
Atlante (No4, R9) is a hugely talented top liner who is ready to perform fresh from a break, as he has previously. Atlante will take plenty of beating. As will fresh-up Telegraph winner Sacred Star (No1) provided he gets a decent passage from his outside barrier. Natuzzi (No2) will do better than he managed in the Telegraph where he was simply outpaced over the 1200m.
