By MICHAEL GUERIN
Tupelo Rose is one of the greatest fillies produced in New Zealand but that won't earn her much respect at Alexandra Park tonight.
The champion filly confirmed her greatness with a stunning national all comers record 1:55.1 mile rate for 1700m at her last start.
That was quicker than any pacer of any age has run in New Zealand, an almost unfathomable effort from a filly.
But while rival trainers admit Tupelo Rose is something special they are not ready to concede tonight's classic to her.
"I think if they ran the race in lanes then Tupelo Rose would beat my filly every time," said Steven Reid, co-trainer of Dancingon- moonlight.
"But that is how racing works and Tupelo Rose is beatable like every other horse."
This summer the 3-year-old has been the unlucky member of the filly crop, often storming home from bad draws.
While she has been burdened with another second line draw tonight Reid says that could be an advantage, especially with take-no-prisoners filly Quick E Nuff drawn barrier two.
The latter set up Tupelo Rose's national 1700m record before setting up a sizzling Great Northern Derby pace at her last start.
The winner of only one race, Quick E Nuff is the new iron maiden of harness racing and will almost certainly be driven hard to the front by Neil Brady tonight and set up another testing tempo.
"That is what we are hoping for. I think if the pace is very hot like it was last time these fillies raced then we could finish over the top of them, even Tupelo Rose," said Reid.
If Quick E Nuff does lead and set a hot pace then Aussie driving legend Ted Demmler faces an interesting job behind Tupelo Rose.
The southern trained but Victorian-owned Tupelo Rose was beaten by Pocket Queen, a race rival tonight, when asked to sit parked on a hot pace two starts ago.
She looked greatly improved by that run when scorching to her national record last start but even for one as superior as her group one victories do not come easy.
If Demmler elects to move mid-race he knows there is little chance of getting the front and faces the unenviable task of sitting parked on a hot pace. But if he sits back Tupelo Rose could strike traffic problems over the last lap as some of those who work early start to tire.
The good news for punters is Demmler has driven 3000 winners so he has faced these sort of problems before.
If Tupelo Rose is to be upset then Quick E Nuff and Dancing- onmoonlight are the most logical dangers but punters looking for value should consider Flask and Pocket Queen.
Both went big races behind the older mares in a near national record 2200m race last start.
Pocket Queen was a gutsy third behind Electric Kiwi and Chloe Hanover that night and has the gate speed to press forward and get a handy sit tonight.
Flask was only seventh in that same race last start but was three wide for the last lap and only peaked at the 150m point. Tonight she has the ace and could get the perfect trip from which to use her huge sprint.
While many punters will anchor Tupelo Rose in the $50,000 Pick Six there would appear to be safer options for those looking to reduce their outlay.
Shiraz Matazz stands out as an anchor in the first leg, race four, after an effortless win at Cambridge on Monday night.
He has drawn the ace and with Anthony Butt in the sulky should control a race that lacks opposition good enough to put pressure on him.
Mike's Pal takes a giant step up in class in the following race but looks a Derby type and is tough enough to measure up.
His stablemate Sir Rossini will also start at unbackable odds in race eight after a close second to the talented Timothy Or Pat at his last start, which should have greatly improved him.
Racing: Tupelo Rose facing tough Oaks test
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