One Change is unbeaten in three starts but has drawn (barrier four) outside Smooth Deal (two) in their $170,000 final over 1980m mobile.
When Smooth Deal was thrashing his opponents over the summer tonight's draw would have suggested he would lead and win and plenty of punters would have been piling into a $1.20 divvy to boost their multis.
But cracks in his armour started to appear when he broke for no reason in two races and even worse he led easily and was grabbed on the line by One Change in the Sales Series Pace two weeks ago so will instead start around $2 tonight.
He was found to be affected by a virus soon after that last-start defeat but champion trainer Mark Purdon admits Smooth Deal is no longer the stable's clear-cut juvenile star.
"We really don't know which one is the better of them now," says Purdon. "So either of them could win this week and while we expect Smooth Deal to be better than last start, One Change might be too because he worked very, very well here on Tuesday."
While there is plenty of talent in the juvenile crop it is hard to imagine one of the pair not winning whereas the $150,000 NZ Oaks might have a little more scope for an upset.
Belle Of Montana was mega impressive coming from well back to beat an almost identical field in the Nevele R Final last Friday.
And she has the draw (five) to go forward and gain a huge tactical advantage over Princess Tiffany, who starts on the second line.
As stunning as Princess Tiffany has been at times, Belle Of Montana's record this season is clearly better (3-0 head to head) so she has to be the favourite tonight.
"From that barrier I think she can come out a bit early and go forward but I will leave that up to Zac (Butcher)," says master trainer Barry Purdon.
That suggests Belle Of Montana could be seen in a different role tonight as all her major wins have come after sit-sprint tactics, even taking a trail 1200m out when a red hot favourite in the Victoria Oaks two starts ago.
She looks stronger mentally and physically than she was at the start of her debut season so should be ready to change tack and easily lead which would make the Oaks hers to lose.
Still, Princess Tiffany has too much x-factor to dismiss while the likes of Northern Oaks winner Best Western and even Belle Of Montana's stablemate Havtime have shown enough to suggest they are at least place value with their advantageous draws.
Meanwhile, at Alexandra Park tonight comeback filly Tickle Me Pink should continue on her winning way even off the second line in the Northern Trotting Oaks.
