KEY POINTS:
When Brent Lilley was first asked to train Here Comes Soky he had never heard of him.
But it did not take long for the promising stayer to make an impression.
"He is a lovely horse, a pretty serious horse," explains Lilley.
Here Comes Soky is a 6-race
winner but most of those were in races south of Lilley's home province of Canterbury so he flew under Lilley's radar.
"I didn't know much about him but his owner (David Johnston) said because he was getting up in the grades he might be suited by a bigger stable.
"And he thought our beach training would help him. I'll tell you what, I am glad he contacted us now."
Here Comes Soky will make his debut for his new trainer at Addington tonight and Lilley wouldn't be surprised to see him win, even though he is up against a classy type in Gimme A Break.
"Our horse has done plenty of work on the beach and is doing it well.
"I am not saying he is ready for a gutbuster but he is up to most of these horses."
Here Comes Soky was inconvenienced by a barrier strand tangling around his leg in his first workout for Lilley but downed open class Tribute in his second, at Rangiora on Tuesday.
"We only took him there to see how he stepped away and how well he steered.
"He did both perfectly so we are very happy with where he is at."
While Here Comes Soky is an 8-year-old he has raced only 21 times, although it has not been any physical problems which have curtailed his career.
"They didn't break him in until he was a 5-year-old so he is very inexperienced."
That could be one factor that plays against him tonight as the small field could make the race tactical and if Here Comes Soky can't take advantage of his front line draw to put a few rivals between himself and Gimme A Break he may struggle to win.
Gimme A Break is one of the more promising intermediate grade pacers in the country and has looked fit at recent trials, including one where he pushed open class star Baileys Dream close.
He has won two of his three starts at Addington and while he does have to overcome a 10m handicap he is the likely favourite.
Lilley was to have lined up former North Island pacer Highxcitement earlier in the night but he is likely to be scratched after being sold.
