KEY POINTS:
There is an important statistic in all form guides that could be crucial to the chances of Nom Du Jeu in tomorrow's $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa.
He is shown as failing at his only start at 1400m.
In fact, he's 1 from 1.
The reason the form has to read zero is that he lost the victory he scored in that competitive 1400m event at Te Rapa in the spring to a positive swab to an relatively benign unauthorised substance.
Nom Du Jeu is one of the icons in a field of stars in tomorrow's feature.
His clash with the likes of Mufhasa, Jurys Out, Red Ruler, Ruud Van Slaats and rising star Shanzero should turn out to be one of the top 10 highlights of the season.
Nom Du Jeu is best known as a stayer, evidenced by his stunning win in the AJC Derby in Sydney.
But he is also a good sprinter when fresh.
He won on debut as a 2-year-old, then won again fresh from a winter spell in the race he lost at Te Rapa last September 5.
This will be his first start since finishing eighth in the Melbourne Cup in November but he has impressed in training.
"He's come up this time very well," confirmed co-trainer Murray Baker yesterday.
There should be a huge amount of pace in this race and that's going to suit staying types like Nom Du Jeu, Red Ruler and Shanzero.
Nom Du Jeu's rider Noel Harris is a master at judging pace and knowing exactly when to time a run at the leaders.
Fellow 4-year-old Red Ruler could be in for a similar enormous autumn campaign.
He finished second to Nom Du Jeu in the Derby in Sydney and beat him home when second to Princess Coup in the Kelt Capital Stakes in the spring.
He has furnished into a much stronger looking horse since being spelled after returning from Melbourne Cup and Sandown Classic runs in Australia and is also the type to sprint well when fresh.
Trainer John Sargent advises punters to be a little cautious this time.
"Put it this way, I wouldn't be putting my own money on him. He's aiming at the BMW in two months, so it's impossible to have him peaking at this point.
"From that draw (No 1) he'll get three or four back along the rails and he'd need all the breaks to get near them. If he's running on I'll be happy."
Red Ruler's stablemate Ruud Van Slaats is racing on her pet course and at probably her pet distance.
She has speed, is tough and few have her courage in a tight finish.
Ruud Van Slaats and Mufhasa will have the advantage of being on the speed.
The mare has drawn No 13, with Mufhasa one gate to her outside.
Almost certainly they will come across the face of the field together in the first 150m and where they end up in running after that depends on how much speed horses inside the pair, like Martini Red and Insouciant, need to kick up.
Ruud Van Slaats has won three from four at Te Rapa - a critical form pointer.
Her third placing to Mufhasa in the $1 million Telegraph at Trentham last start was magnificent and she looks better placed against that horse this time, even though the weight differential remains the same.
Fritzy Boy was noticed taking ground off those in front of him in the closing stages of the Telegraph. He, too, looks better placed at 1400m and it would be no surprise to see him form part of the trifecta.
Pinsoir and Atapi are other chances after their eye-catching runs in the Telegraph Handicap last month.
1400M TEST
* Nom Du Jeu won his only start at 1400m, but lost that race after a positive swab.
* He is best known as a stayer, but can sprint well when fresh.
* In-form Mufhasa has to be the horse to beat. He is shaping as a sprint specialist.
