KEY POINTS:
It is a pity they do not frame Kelt Capital Stakes fields on heart and class.
Six O'Clock News would be a certainty to make the line-up for the $2 million group one at Hastings on October 4.
Instead, the two-win 4-year-old with untapped ability sits on what looks a forlorn 27th in the pecking order.
He should jump a slot or two with the R90 win over 1600m everyone expects at Ruakaka tomorrow.
But Cambridge co-trainer Trent Busuttin knows he'd need another victory before Hastings - and some kind of minor miracle - to make the Kelt field. "He's going to be struggling to make it ," concedes Busuttin.
"He's really only in there as an 'in case' he makes it. But there are plenty of other options, like the Waikato and Counties Cups and we don't have to pressure him to get there.
"They are probably more his go and he'll get in with a nice low weight."
Still, Six O'Clock News has surprised Busuttin before.
When the rain struck Mercedes Derby day at Ellerslie in March, Busuttin told the horse's owners to just go along and enjoy the day.
Busuttin had given up on the lanky Zabeel stayer getting anywhere near a cheque.
"Chris Johnson got off the horse and said he was spastic in the ground; he just got there [fifth place] on his heart."
Six O'Clock News has come back from a winter spell a lot taller, but Busuttin admits he hasn't exactly filled out his frame a lot.
"He's just going to be that type of horse; a big lanky bugger.
"He's never going to be robust, that's just the way he is."
Busuttin and training partner, father Paddy, are hoping to see some pace on early in his second-up appearance tomorrow.
They didn't get that last time out over 1400m at Tauranga on August 30 and punters paid the price.
A fresh Six O'Clock News jumped outside the leaders, who jammed on the brakes soon after, and he was left flat footed in the sprint for the line.
Under the circumstances, his effort to fight back for second to Tuscany Dancer, no slouch herself, was massive.
"I thought he was only going to run fourth at one stage," said Trent Busuttin.
"His last 100m was the best part of his race."
Busuttin's biggest fear tomorrow is another crawl and sprint scenario, with no obvious pacemaker.
"But I still won't be surprised if he comes out and wins," he said.
The Logan stable hope Adorn has to drop back to 1600m after his last-start middle-distance win on the track but shapes as the danger to the Cambridge visitor despite a hefty weight rise. He has had a chance to freshen.
