"I'd probably say The Diamond One, but it wouldn't surprise me if the other fellow stepped up," he said yesterday. "It's his biggest test down here to date - it's a good field he's meeting - but he won't be too far away. He will be running on anyway."
The Diamond One missed a jumpout last week but has had three gallops to tighten her for this assignment.
"She had a good hitout in a gallop and she's had a couple since then, so I'm not too worried about it," he said.
"It's a good draw; she can go forward, but hopefully she can get a wee bit of cover, which would be nice. She just needs that cover to get her to relax a wee bit - so she should get a good run from there."
Hexie Hao had a jumpout early in the month and a final hitout yesterday morning.
"They both galloped this morning over 600m and they both worked really nice. He'll probably slot in midfield - he's drawn out a little this time. It's the first time he's had a bad draw, but looking at his record up north he can come from back a bit as well."
It's far from a two-horse race, though, with last-start winner Sucre and El Chico joined by the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained Valiant as genuine chances.
The Terry Kennedy-trained pair of Chapel Star and Drumregal are not without a hope, while Rewa will be fitter for her last-start second at Riccarton on December 5.
Steven Anderton rates Movida (R8) the best of his five other chances even after lobbing barrier 13 in the first of two rating 65 1600m races. She was a bold fourth at Wingatui on December 10.
"She probably should have been closer last time. I wasn't too happy with the ride, but she's done well," he said. "She's got a bad draw so she'll get back a wee bit. I'll look at putting her over 2000m next time."
Typhoon joins Movida in the same race, and should be up near the front early.
"He races on the speed and he just keeps giving. We're hoping we can pick up one or two with him down there."
Lucille (R10) should benefit from the handy draw of 5 in the second rating 65 1600m and Anderton reported the mare had done "really well" since her third at Invercargill.
Landales Gold (R4) would be better with experience, Anderton said.
Powerful challenge
• Steven Anderton has two top chances in the feature event at Wingatui on Boxing Day.
• Former northerner Hexie Hao has a great record on the track.
The Diamond One has the class factor on her side.
