Steel Rose showed grit out of the ordinary when she clung on for a narrow win at Trentham last start.
Lady Royale simply blitzed away from her opposition to score by 5.8 lengths at Te Rapa last time to the races.
There are others to consider in this group two event, but the contest between these two high-class fillies alone will be fascinating.
Wheeler, one of horse racing's true realists, is happy where his filly sits.
"It will take a pretty special type to beat her," he says.
"It was a high-class effort to win at Trentham last start, she was put to the test. She was taken on then she beat that horse off and had to fight off the next one that came along."
Although the margin got close late in the race with Platinum Balos - who is a rival again - Steel Rose never looked like conceding.
Lady Royale is an interesting case. Because she is prepared right-handed at Pukekohe, co-trainer Richard Collett assumed she would be better racing in that direction. The filly's big Te Rapa win proved the opposite is true and Lady Royale gets her favoured left-handed way of going again tomorrow.
The barrier draw definitely leans towards Steel Rose, who will come out of gate No1 compared with barrier No7 for Lady Royale. The No7 is hardly cause for despair, but it means Steel Rose will be required to do significantly less work in the first 300m.
"She's not a flying machine type of filly, but she can lead or sit on the speed," says Wheeler.
There was a lot to like about Flaming's runaway 3.1-length Te Rapa victory last start. She is clearly a filly on the improve and although she has drawn awkwardly at No9 of the 10 runners, she has looked good when allowed to sit off the speed and charge late, somewhat negating the barrier draw.
There is a stack of emerging talent in the other runners, but the above three are entitled to the main consideration.
Similarly there is no end to the promise provided by the nine runners in the Reid & Harrison Slipper, but Riding Shotgun's class and experience should be the telling factor.
Riding Shotgun couldn't hold out Vespa in the Karaka Million last start, but still looked superb in finishing second.
Riding Shotgun did not look anywhere as comfortable on the rain-affected footing in the big race as the winner, Vespa. He has drawn the No1 barrier tomorrow and will have footing to suit perfectly.
Dragon Lair is another who was not as happy as he could have been on the Karaka Million footing. He is a youngster with a fair level of ability and has a home track advantage here.
Matamata trainer Lance Noble leaves his local premier meeting behind this weekend to head to Otaki in search of further group oneglory.
His high-class mare Viadana has been in outstanding form throughout her current campaign and Noble believes she's in the right shape to enhance that record tomorrow.
She meets some tough and talented opponents in the Haunui Farm group one WFA Classic but her trainer doubts he's ever had her better.
"She looks in better physical condition than I've ever had her before, I'm very happy with her and she's trained on well from Te Rapa," said Noble.
At Te Rapa she was game when adding to her group one record against a strong line-up over 1400 metres in the NRM Sprint. Back to her favoured 1600m journey tomorrow she should be ultra-competitive.
- Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
