KEY POINTS:
It's been a while coming, but all the arrows look to be finally pointing in the same direction for Samurai in tomorrow's Feilding Gold Cup at Awapuni.
Three recent fabulous efforts by Samurai have seen the potential topline stayer come up empty for different reasons.
He didn't get a crack at the opposition and finished right behind the placegetters in the Merial Mile at Awapuni then found the 1600m a touch short in attempting to come from last in the Matamata Cup.
His effort that day to finish close up to King Of Ashford, Arlingtonboulevard and Fiscal Madness was a real eye-catcher, particularly as that form has proven by the other trio to be very strong.
There was always the chance that even stepping up to 1900m the tight Rotorua track might count against Samurai last start and that's how it turned out when he flashed home to be beaten by one stride.
There should be no excuses over the 2100m tomorrow in a smallish field.
If you have any doubt that Samurai is now looking for further than the 1900m, replay the finish of the Rotorua race of two weeks ago.
There is no King Of Ashford, Arlingtonboulevard or Fiscal Madness this time, but in Shamrock Star there is real quality opposition.
For a horse just elevated to the top ranks Shamrock Star was badly off against the Kelt Capital field at weight-for-age and lines up much better in the handicap conditions of this race.
He helped with the pace in the Kelt and it was no surprise that he faded out. He will be much harder to run down in this race.
Darryl Bradley is no doubt wishing he was on King Of Ashford in the A$755,000 ($900,000) Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington tomorrow and will have to settle for the engagement on his stablemate The Drummer in the Feilding Cup.
It is not an impossible chance.
He looked in need of his first-up Rotorua effort then showed the benefit of that with his last-start third.
He should be further improved.
Take Three might be stepping way up in class, but he is a horse of real potential and cannot be ruled out.
