Racing: Stablemate's absence bonus for Zvezda

Zvezda's improved legs can carry him close in tomorrow's $50,000 Higgins Challenge Stakes at Awapuni.

And making the job easier for him is the fact that his stablemate Figurinit will be at home in his box at Otaki.

Trainer Kay Lane said she accepted with the only once-beaten Figurinit in case Zvezda failed to recover from the jarred legs he gave himself running in the Concorde at Avondale two weeks ago.

"It was always going to be Zvezda's race. It was a bit tough attempting weight-for-age with Figurinit at this stage."

Zvezda has had only the two races since April.

He faded to eighth when resuming at Hastings in early October and failed to respond late in the race after jarring up mid-race in the Concorde.

"He's over that and the rain we've had here in the last couple of days is going to really help. He's a better horse when there's a bit of rain around.

"Even if the track gets back to quite firm on Saturday he'll be fine after working on a rain-affected surface in the last few days."

Zvezda's medium-term goal is the group one Thorndon Mile at Trentham late next month and as a lead-up he will race either in the Kings Plate at Ellerslie on Boxing Day or the big metric mile on January 3.

Our Fuji and northerner Society Bay look dangers. Our Fuji is aiming at a hattrick after being impressive winning narrowly on Levin Stakes day at Otaki.

Matamata trainer Mark Walker rates Society Bay a better chance than stablemate Distinctly Secret.

"The old bloke [Distinctly Secret] will be outpaced early and if he runs on into fourth or fifth I'll be rapt.

"Society Bay has to be a threat because he's been racing so well. He's done a huge job to come back after a bowed tendon and suspensory trouble and every day we have with him is a bonus."

Doyle is the value bet. He looked right in form before missing at Tauranga last start, but Tauranga can trip up some horses.