KEY POINTS:
Few horses will ever get a better chance to sneak in through the back door to a major race than Christian Spirit gets at Alexandra Park tonight.
The speedster went into the corresponding race last Friday chasing a spot in the A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire in Sydney, only to finish a slightly-disappointing third.
But, even after that performance, Sydney officials are keen on him making their feature race for 4-year-olds and will only need to see him win tonight to almost guarantee him a spot.
And with only five opponents if Christian Spirit can't win, he quite simply doesn't deserve the trip to Sydney.
Last week, he started a warm favourite but didn't show the expected kick and finished third behind upset winner Bury My Heart.
She is in the line-up tonight, as is runner-up Make It Real and the trio all start off the same marks.
The biggest difference is that with just the six starters, Christian Spirit's 40m backmark should prove little hindrance.
Once the field settles, driver Maurice McKendry could easily move forward and attack for the lead or, at worst, flush out a rival and secure a good sit.
Either way, if he produces his best tonight Christian Spirit should win.
That is the major question for those considering anchoring him in the guaranteed $100,000 Pick6 though, because even his greatest fan admitted he wasn't quite as sharp as he could have been last week.
"To be honest, we expected a little more," said co-trainer Ray Green.
"It is never easy to win off a big handicap at Alexandra Park but he had the right run and, initially, we were disappointed.
"In saying that, he still paced around 3:24 for the 2700m from a stand so maybe it was a better run than it looked."
If the favourite doesn't produce his best tonight then Metekhi looks the biggest danger, even though he finished only sixth last Friday.
He got back on the inside and looked uncomfortable trying to take gaps in the home straight.
"He can be a bit claustrophobic like that and it was just the way the race panned out," said his trainer Geoff Small.
Metekhi is at his best when he can run close to the pace and look certain to get that chance from the 10m mark tonight.
Even though she downed the same opponents fair and square last week, Bury My Heart is sure to be a decent odds again and without a re-handicap should not be ignored by those chasing Pick6.
The night's other feature, the main trot, is another case of a class act chasing his rivals off a backmark.
This time, it is former Breeders Crown winner Super Command, who faces a 30m handicap in race nine but, like Christian Spirit, is aided by a small field.
He was impressive finishing third fresh-up in a new campaign and will be hard to beat, although Extasia, Cream Of The Cop and Starza Rising have all been in fine form lately.
Those looking for a Pick6 anchor should look no further than Mr Ricky in the last leg. He bolted in at Cambridge last start yet doesn't go up in grade for that victory and should sit close to the pace and be too good.
