KEY POINTS:
The Kelt Capital supporting races tomorrow show just what an exciting season is about to unfold.
Class act Wahid reappears to take on the likes of Dezigna and Kay's Awake in the Kelt Memorial, and the $100,000 Golan Hawkes Bay Guineas line-up of Alamosa, El Cuento and stablemates Abbey Way and Special Mission would be a headlining race itself on any other day.
Then you have emerging horses like Everswindell and the South Island's five-from-seven O'Reilly Rose.
Mark Walker is going to play a big part in the Hawkes Bay Guineas with Special Mission and the unbeaten Abbey Way.
They couldn't be more different.
Special Mission was a sleeper in the stable before winning three straight and finishing second to a remarkable Diamond Deck.
Plenty has always been expected of Abbey Way, a magnificent individual.
He won narrowly on debut at Ellerslie in June, but it was a top performance and was no less impressive winning his only other start at Taupo recently.
Walker is pleased with both as they tackle Alamosa, who he considers his biggest danger.
"The filly [Special Mission] just knuckles down and is a real racehorse and Abbey Way is the new kid on the block, but he's got a ton of potential."
That potential may be enough - even with his lack of experience - to take him close to toppling Alamosa and his stablemate.
El Cuento made a big impression as a juvenile last season and looked good lumping 58kg into a close second here two weeks ago, but his 13 barrier draw creates a severe disadvantage for him.
He is a quality colt, though, and if Hayden Tinsley can weave some magic from out wide and somehow secure an economical passage, he could still play a major role.
Wahid resumes in the $100,000 Kelt Memorial after an eight-month absence.
Trainer Allan Sharrock has said right through that the Couplands Bakeries Mile at Riccarton is the main aim, but the weight of TAB money which sees him as joint favourite for this race suggests something is expected tomorrow.
Canterbury-trained O'Reilly Rose is the interesting acceptor for the meeting, down to run in the R90 1600m.
Trainers Peter and Dawn Williams rarely travel their horses without a winning chance.
"She's good enough to win," Peter Williams confirmed. "She's only second-up from a spell, which worries me a little, but if we're going to get her into the Couplands Mile we've got to get some racing into her."
Everswindell looked in for a great summer when she finished fourth to Mandela over 1600m at Pukekohe last start and gets her chance over a more suitable 2040m in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Handicap.
