KEY POINTS:
If La Grandezza has a cups future, in-form Cambridge trainer Murray Baker should get a clearer idea of the timing after her middle-distance debut today.
Baker, who has exploded into premiership contention in the last few weeks with 18 season wins, rates Matamata as one of the toughest courses to beat the locals on.
But Baker's $7500 TBS bonus-chaser La Grandezza has two massive counter-factors in her favour against R76 rivals today; she's already a winner there and finally gets more like the distance [2000m] she was born to run.
The exciting Flying Spur 4-year-old resumed with a good blow-out over 1600m at Avondale on November 1 after almost a year away from the track.
Her last run before that was for an impressive maiden victory over the same trip at Matamata when she cruised past Centapin inside the final 100m to win with plenty in the tank.
"She may still need one run over ground, but she has been in work for a while and is fairly fit," said Baker of her chances today.
"She goes well. She's just a very big mare who's needed time. I hope she can progress through the grades from now on."
While she's only just now filling out her giant frame, Baker has made no secret of how high he rates La Grandezza all along.
As a 2-year-old he lined her up in Twinkling's Great Northern Foal stakes on debut for a close-up fifth on ground that didn't suit.
Stablemate Wishing, also a promising staying type, gives Baker another big chance to show up the locals in the same race.
Baker says the lightly-raced 4-year-old had no luck last time out at Te Awamutu.
She botched the jump and was never in contention after that in a fast-run race.
If she can overcome the outside alley for rider Lisa Cropp today her previous two runs suggest her second career win is close.
She ranged up like she was going to score fresh-up at Hastings on Kelt Capital Stakes day before fading late for fourth over 1600m.
Next up two weeks later at the same venue she had all but the exciting Mettre En Jeu covered over the same trip.
Baker's three other runners today - Ambitious Tycoon, Killa Loox, and Keep Alight - are all rated each-way chances.
