However, to be fair, Daffodil wasn't exclusively a staying type - she was just very, very talented.
In fact, she was a 1200m 2-year-old winner, won the 1600m 1000 Guineas and 1600m group one Windsor Park Plate, then to show her versatility finished fourth in Viewed's 2009 Caulfield Cup and mid-field 11th in Shocking's Melbourne Cup of that year.
Remarkably, at her next race start in February she won an 1100m Taranaki sprint beating Jazella. She was the real deal.
Snowdrop was yesterday the Railway $7.50 equal third favourite with Natuzzi behind Perfect Fit on $3.80 and the $5.50 second favourite, Start Wondering.
She poked through along the rails to win the major sprint on Boxing Day only to be eclipsed in the final few strides by Speech Craft.
"That run has done her good," says trainer Tony Pike. "She hadn't run for six weeks and is quite a gross mare."
A major player here will be Snowdrop's No 1 barrier. She has the tactical speed to put herself in the race and Danielle Johnson now knows her well.
As mentioned in yesterday's Herald, co-trainer Ken Kelso has convinced himself Perfect Fit's No 13 barrier (No 11 with the emergencies out) will not be a barrier for success. Well, truthfully speaking, former top jockey Lance O'Sullivan convinced Kelso at the Matamata track on Thursday morning. "I got a lot of confidence from Lance telling me he had twice won the Railway from outside barriers.
"I'm a lot more relaxed and in the mare's favour she clears the gates very quickly, which will be a help."
Perfect Fit is a group one winner at 1600m, but also has a 1200m record of six starts for three wins and two placings. Her tactical speed puts her in contention regardless of the distance.
Start Wondering is the exceptionally interesting horse. He looked a real topliner before being sent to Chris Waller's Sydney stable and once there established the same credentials. Racing right-handed here will not be an issue.
All his racing before Australia was left-handed and so was his resuming win at Te Rapa two starts back, but all his Sydney racing, before he bled and returned home, was the Ellerslie way around.
He simply strolled in at Te Rapa and although he might be a fresh horse, there has to have been some improvement in him from that race.
Forget he subsequently went around at Otaki where the rain-affected footing was right against him.
Natuzzi and Red Striker perhaps look the best of the remainder.
Natuzzi flew home to win the big sprint here four weeks ago and with last year's winner Ryan Mark at the top of the handicap comes in her fairly well off on 56kg, 2kg less than he carried last start.
Red Striker did not feature last start, although her run was not that bad, but a true indication of her upset chance in this was her fast-closing effort when resuming to be just behind the placegetters at Pukekohe. She is a touch under-rated.
