Mustang Valley has been handed the perfect opportunity in the $330,000 Classic at Hastings on Saturday.
The mare will start a shortening favourite for the Group 1 weight-for-age feature, which looks certain to be run on a heavy track after persistent rain started in Hastings on Wednesday and was still falling Thursday afternoon.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing officials are not worried about the meeting having to be moved again, as it was two weeks ago, but have resigned themselves to the track not improving above the heavy range.
That suits Mustang Valley, who has had seven career starts on heavy tracks for three wins and four seconds, a vastly superior record to most of her key rivals.
Some, such as Vernanme and Defibrillate, have won on heavy ground but their connections would have wanted better footing, while other proven Group 1 performers like second favourite Prise De Fer and True Enough haven't won on a heavy track.