KEY POINTS:
Power Of Tara has been worth the wait.
And now he is ready to repay his trainers, owners and the punters who have believed in the rangy 5-year-old.
Power Of Tara looks the handicapping tip in the $45,000 Manukau Summer Cup, the feature pace at tonight's premier meeting at Alexandra Park.
He thrashed many of his opponents in last Friday's corresponding race and while the handicaps are compressed tonight, he still starts off the front mark.
His co-trainer, champion horseman Barry Purdon, says that is the key to Power Of Tara.
"He is a lovely horse but is at his best when he can race close to the pace," said Purdon.
"His fast beginning is what won him the race last Friday and that is why he will be hard to beat again.
"He loves it tough and when he is near the front and pressing on he is very hard to run down."
Purdon convinced a group of stable clients and friends to pay decent money for Power Of Tara when he was just a two-win horse last season and he has never stopped improving.
"He was always a long-term project because he is such a big horse and we were thrilled that he could come out and run second in a race like the Taylor Mile last season.
"But he has gone on since then. We have been patient with him and I think the trip to Addington last month has brought him on even more."
During that trip Power Of Tara was a fighting eighth in the New Zealand Cup in his first big-time open class test, suggesting he could win a major cup at some stage.
If he can step as quickly tonight as he did last Friday he could well find the lead again as the front line contains few likely challengers for that role.
The obvious one is Montecito, who had to concede Power Of Tara a 10m start last Friday and faded late after racing parked.
With a slightly easier run off the front tonight he can turn the tables, but the pair would not want to attack each other for too long as there will be plenty of "stalkers" capable of swooping to victory.
Montecito's stablemate Baileys Dream is one of those after a fantastic season in which he has finally lived up to his enormous potential.
He is fresh tonight but has raced exceedingly well in that state before and only needs some luck to test the front-line horses.
Report For Duty was impressive last Friday, as was Awesome Armbro after an early gallop. He could be the blowout horse with a safer beginning tonight.
Add Marika, with his dazzling speed, and grand stayer Mi Muchacho, and the race provides punters with an intriguing challenge.
But Power Of Tara each way still looks the best option.
Meanwhile, Purdon rates The Cavalier and Kuai Diam as each way chances in their races tonight.
The Cavalier has the aid of the ace draw in the $70,000 Elsu Classic so should get a great run in what is going to be a frenetically run affair.
"He has improved a little bit recently and the draw suits him," said Purdon.
"And I thought Kuai Diam [race two] raced well at Addington and he has to be a chance."
