KEY POINTS:
Nom Du Jeu's Victorian Derby door may have closed, but there is still plenty at stake for the highly-rated three-year-old at Pukekohe today.
First and foremost he needs to win back a little respect.
For three straight starts now the Montjeu colt has stepped out as a cramped win favourite and failed to deliver.
The costliest miss for punters came last time out at Hawera when after looking unbeatable on paper he beat just five home in a moderate 15-horse field.
It was a performance that forced trainer Murray Baker to ditch plans for an 11th hour spot in the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington next month.
The uncharacteristic run, however, did nothing to dampen Baker's belief the horse is still classic staying material.
He's just hoping he gets a chance to prove it today and keep races like Mercedes Derby in March firmly on the radar.
"I've got faith in the horse," said Baker.
"His third and second were good runs but his last run was below par. It wasn't the plan to lead. It was just circumstances.
"He just got trapped a bit wide at the start and kept on pressing on."
Baker is leaving no stone unturned in his quest for a major turnaround today.
Noel Harris replaces Michael Walker and the blinkers that were tried at Hawera are swapped for side winkers and a tongue tie.
From the six gate, Harris will be under strict instructions not to have Nom Du Jeu anywhere near the pace this time.
But Baker is under no illusions that a win's a formality, even allowing for the fact it's the same course the colt won so impressively on in debut.
"It's bloody hard for a three-year-old to win against older R70 horses," said Baker.
"They're getting beaten all the time. If it was weight-for-age he'd be getting 49.5kg and the five-year-olds would be on 58kg."
Stablemate Tariq could be the safer bet in race four.
The Rock Of Gibraltar colt finally gets the middle-distance Baker says he's been screaming out for all along.
"He should go better over ground - he's a nice horse."
Tariq had the look of a next-up winner over ground when third to Lanbrae over 1600m at Te Aroha on October 17.
He won't get an easier chance to quit maiden class all season.
Baker is less confident about Svaneke (race eight), his only other runner today.
The Danske four-year-old resumed with a fourth at Te Awamutu on October 12, but putting two encouraging runs together has never been a forte.
"He's a bit of an enigma," conceded Baker.
"He either goes a good one or he won't. But he's only a runner's chance."
