KEY POINTS:
Take a look at the horses in the latest formline of Gallions Reach.
Pasta Post, Twinkling and Delbrae - each of which would start favourite for tomorrow's $20,000 Skycity Hamilton Cup at Te Rapa.
In his past two Gallions Reach has been beaten by a head by Twinkling in the Thames Cup and by a nose by Delbrae.
He may have even won that last encounter had rider Mark Du Plessis not been forced to take an inside gap in the home straight a touch prematurely.
Du Plessis had no choice and it left Gallions Reach in front a shade early and vulnerable when Delbrae lunged.
With a seemingly perfect barrier draw again, Gallions Reach should get the run of the race with 54kg and looks a great each-way prospect.
Black Panther's form on paper looks patchy, but it's better than that.
Last start Black Panther was just two lengths off winner Fiscal Madness in the 1600m Anniversary Handicap at Trentham, great form for a race like this, and before that was less than five lengths behind the same horse after having to cover extra ground in the Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie.
And then you have the enigmatic Charliehorse.
Many punters have dropped him as a gunna, but that might be a little premature.
Two starts back his fourth to Fiscal Madness in the Rich Hill Mile was a blinder and even though well beaten when favourite at Avondale last start, the sit-sprint tempo of the race didn't suit.
He's starting to run out of chances, but the time sectionals at Avondale were enough to convince you he is not on the despised list yet.
New Zealand Cup winner Pentathon has 60.5kg and with only one start behind him over 1600m this preparation should be safely held here.
Desert Flight, Valley Chief and Prized Touch should be better chances.
Desert Flight got away with a very comfortable lead at Avondale last start and it made it extremely difficult for anything to get past in the closing stages.
As circumstantial as that win was, he is well capable of winning under any circumstances and has two points in his favour - he appears right back to his best form and his four wins and two placings at Te Rapa make him a track specialist. Prized Touch has had little racing for a 6-year-old and comes in fresh here since his last run for fifth behind Spin Around in the Avondale Cup. He is not out of place in this field.
