By MIKE DILLON
Talk about the princess and the peasants.
After three months of sodden tracks and wet-weather horses, Ad Alta adds a dynamic touch of class to Ellerslie tomorrow when she emerges from the winter blues to begin her 4-year-old career.
Last season's highest ranking 3-year-old filly takes on the open sprinters in a race which will decide her spring campaign, and enormous interest centres on what she can produce.
Producing a topliner like Ad Alta for a fresh campaign is a stressful time for her connections.
Has she retained her ability?
Is it possible she could even be better?
Trainer Tony Gillies is the ultimate pragmatist and is keeping an open mind.
"These will be the worst conditions she's raced in and she may not handle it," he said yesterday. "We don't know.
"But she has to have a run somewhere and this race fits in nicely timewise with a couple of our options."
Those options include the $100,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings on August 26 or heading straight to Melbourne for an extended campaign.
"Everything hinges on what she does in this race."
Class counts for plenty in racing, and with 54kg Ad Alta looks a definite winning chance if she is anywhere near her best.
"She hasn't done a lot of galloping, but then she rarely does. She's reasonably fit."
Ad Alta can race on the speed, but Gillies will be telling rider Leith Innes not to bustle the filly if she wants to settle early.
"She will improve a lot with this race and I want to see her running on."
There is ample tough winter talent to keep Ad Alta honest. Vyner's Lane, Yes Or No, Tio Lavender and Rodney Red are nowhere near the same class, but they have speed and stickability in winter conditions that can be testing for a horse not fully fit.
Vyner's Lane was in great form through a series of tough races in April, May and June and should have benefited from a break leading into this race. He has drawn wide, but has ample speed to allow him to cross most of those inside him.
Yes Or No has also been freshened after failing in unsuitable conditions at Tauranga six weeks ago. He has a good record on this track and is one of the better chances.
Racing: Princess to get her feet wet
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