Well, we haven't quite got to a definitive point either way with the state of the Hastings track, but things are a bit clearer.
Overnight Thursday, rain (Met Service 1 - all others 0) took Hastings to a slow (8), but a humid fine day yesterday is expected to have dragged sufficient moisture to get things back to a seven by this morning.
That may not be too bad given the inside 6m is new ground, last used at the Hawke's Bay Cup meeting in autumn.
The $200,000 Makfi will be a beaut. No certainties, but Kawi (R7, No 1) looks the best bet of the four standouts, which also include Hasselhoof (No 4), Stolen Dance (No 10) and Valley Girl (No 13). Hasselhoof and Stolen Dance have improved since their first-up at Ruakaka and Valley Girl, the winner of that race doesn't need to.
This will be a crack to officially end winter racing.