Trainer Shaune Ritchie is not convinced that's insurmountable.
"Look, you can't argue with statistics, they're there in front of you, but I don't think she's a duffer right-handed nor an Ellerslie duffer.
"She was beaten in the Derby [fifth to Silent Achiever] and she disappointed in an Easter on a slippery track. I believe one of her career best runs was in the Coolmore Classic [group one] at Rosehill, which is right-handed, where she was less than a length from the winner in fifth place behind Appearance and Red Tracer, the best-of-the-best of the fillies around.
"So I'm not convinced she won't be competitive this time."
Ritchie felt he had Zurella close to her best when he took her to Te Rapa 10 days ago and she flashed up for second in the Cal Isuzu Stakes. He says if anything she now looks slightly better.
Zurella has drawn barrier No 1 at the 2000m start, which can be tricky for those drawn wide.
"I don't believe she needs to drop back to last as she sometimes has.
I'd like to see her three back on the rail and from that gate she'll get an economical passage."
Shuka stylishly won the group one Captain Cook Stakes at Trentham last start, but is badly off this time from gate No 10. Lady Kipling is similarly affected, coming out of gate nine.
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has separated his classy fillies Procurement and Lucia Valentina on Thursday. Procurement will take on the fillies in the Eight Carat Classic and Lucia Valentina will match it with the colts and geldings in the Great Northern Guineas.
Both races have drawn strong, interesting fields.
Deane Martin and Moneytree strode into the field for the $75,000 Dunstan Feeds Championship Final at Ellerslie on January 1 with wins at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Both were impressive. Deane Martin powered up from midfield on the rail to easily capture the leaders in the home straight and Moneytree similarly drove clear in the closing 120m under Michael Walker.
Deane Martin has always promised potential as one of our coming stayers.
Ritchie received an early Christmas present after his top-quality stayer Military Move won another battle ahead of a sterner upcoming Central Districts challenge at Awapuni on Saturday.
The former New Zealand Derby winner has come back to excellent form since his return from Hong Kong to original trainer Ritchie, who has gained immense satisfaction from the 7-year-old's run of form.
Military Move won first-up over ground at Awapuni last month and returned to Palmerston North to triumph in the Manawatu Cup.
"The ability never goes away and any horse that can win a Derby has got a touch of class," Ritchie said. "He had a good bit of racing in Hong Kong and they backed him up a few times, but I feel he's better with his races spaced."
Military Move may miss the City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. "Waiting a month for the Wellington Cup might be the way - it's not easy to place them when they get to the top of the handicap and he is a high-quality horse."
- Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
