KEY POINTS:
Sam Spratt made a telling observation when beaten on favourite Culminate at Ellerslie last start.
Culminate looked a weight special that day, but raced a fraction below her best and finished second to Temple Hills.
"I think she felt the very firm track," said Spratt.
Very warm conditions throughout that day turned a perfect track into a very firm one.
Tomorrow Culminate will look to regain her very best with victory in the $120,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa.
Te Rapa is a very forgiving surface on horses' legs, which probably explains Culminate's two wins from three starts on the track.
The forecast rain for later today and tomorrow morning will only enhance her chances.
One of the standout performances at Pukekohe on Counties Cup day was the effort of Veloce Bella to get up for seventh in the Breeders Stakes, coming from near last in a leader-dominated race.
That may not sound impressive, but it was a very good performance, particularly given it was the mare's second start back after leg problems.
Veloce Bella steps up from 1400m that day to 1600m and that will help enormously.
She is also a course winner and represents the highest class when in form.
John Sargent will be guided on the immediate future of Ruud Van Slaats by the performance the quality mare puts up in this race.
Ruud Van Slaats is a speedy type who won the 1400m Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe last start with a dominating front-running performance and has to step up to 1600m here for the first time.
"I think she'll handle the 1600m well," says Sargent. "They'll all be expecting her to lead, but I don't think she has to lead."
Sargent said if Ruud Van Slaats did not manage the 1600m, he would probably freshen her and look at the $1 million Telegraph at Trentham.
Culminate's trainer Stephen McKee also has Keepa Cruisin engaged.
The mare finished fourth in the Breeders Stakes behind Ruud Van Slaats, but was probably a fraction disappointing after receiving the run of the race. Stepping up to her pet distance, she might prove tougher to keep out tomorrow.
Katy Keen is the interesting runner.
She has not raced for two months after being the beaten favourite when tailing the field behind Ginga Dude at Tauranga on October 18.
Owner-trainer Stu Manning says he has no real guide to how the mare is for this race. He works her on the beach in Tauranga Harbour.
"I've got nothing to use as a guide because she works on her own. My best indication is how she pulls up after a gallop.
"And on that score she's very fit."
