Lady Kipling seeks to add another chapter to stable's winning season.
It was supposed to be Lady Kipling's big chance to step out of two very imposing shadows at Ellerslie on Sunday.
With stable stars We Can Say It Now and Twilight Savings sidelined for other summer assignments, the group two $100,000 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) was Lady Kipling's moment to shine.
Until, that is, she drew the 19 marble.
With little option now but to settle back beyond midfield, her fortunes now hinge on slick early sectionals, believes co-trainer Bjorn Baker.
"I just hope the pace is on because it's her only hope from there," said Baker, whose other runner Ishma also has a double-digit gate.
With flyer Cool Storm and Born To Rock in the race, however, the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat may yet go to script for Baker and his training partner, father Murray.
In her last two starts, Lady Kipling has shown she has one of the most devastating last 600m finishes of any 3-year-old racing.
Two starts back she boomed home from last on the corner for fourth in the weight-for-age group three Tauranga Stakes (1600m).
Then, last time out she came from an equally impossible position for third in the group one Levin Classic (1600m) at Otaki.
She was never going to beat We Can Say It Now that day, but may have given the stable a rare group one quinella if she hadn't been held up for a few vital strides in the straight.
It's runs like those that have the Bakers looking forward to backing the $62,500 Savabeel yearling up in the Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
"Over 2000m she should be really exciting," said Bjorn Baker.
"She's always looked like she had the makings of a good horse; she's just needed a bit of time.
"Fingers crossed that she's now coming to it at the right time."
Baker also rates Ishma "some sort of rough chance" after her phenomenal last-start win over 1400m on a heavy Awapuni last weekend.
"She'll get back as well, but she's gone the right way since Awapuni and the 1600m will suit her."
At the opposite end of the barrier to Lady Kipling on Sunday, last year's top-rated juvenile Banchee is the enigma.
In her best form from the ace gate, she wins by at least a length.
But last season's group one Auckland Diamond Stakes winner has shown nothing close to her two-year-old zip in three runs this season, the most recent for a fading fifth in the Eulogy Stakes (1600m) on December 11.
Matamata trainer John Sargent, however, is tipping a form reversal if her recent trackwork is any indicator.
"I've never seen her work any better than she has this morning [Thursday]," said Sargent. "I'm very happy with her. She should get a lovely run one or two back on the fence from that draw and she's back on her favourite track."
Sargent was far from deflated by her last-start fifth in the Eulogy when she got a dream rails run but couldn't finish it off.
She wound up in the worst of the ground - winner King's Rose powered home out wide - and rider Hayden Tinsley felt she might prefer to be ridden a little "colder".
"I'm looking forward to a good run [on Sunday]," said Sargent.
"There must be some good excuse if she doesn't go any good on the way she's working."
