KEY POINTS:
The scales say Sly Flyin can't win the Spring Cup tonight.
But after spending his entire career proving every expert in racing wrong, maybe even a weight problem can't stop the mighty pacer.
Sly Flyin will go into tonight's Alexandra Park feature well above his peak racing weight, tipping the scales at around 480kg.
That suggests to trainer Michelle Wallis the nine-year-old iron horse will need his outing, but as Wallis admits, she has thought that before.
"When he came back to racing last season I thought he had no chance fresh-up and he came from a handicap to beat Baileys Dream," she said.
"So he can make anybody look a bad judge."
Wallis says while Sly Flyin is so remarkable he could add to his 27 career wins tonight, she thinks he is still a race or two away from his peak.
"Last week I was convinced he would need this race, but then he came out and worked tremendous on Monday morning," she said.
"Now I'd still be surprised if he won, but not shocked."
Sly Flyin will certainly give his supporters some anxious moments as he loves to bounce up and down on the spot behind the tapes before, usually, making a good beginning.
"If he can make one of his really good beginnings this week then he could be a big chance."
Wallis believes the presence of natural free-running types in the race - like J J Thomas and Christian Spirit - could aid Sly Flyin.
"He loves it when the pace is on, even though he is fresh."
Later in the night, Wallis will unleash the great problem child of New Zealand trotting when Genius has his first start since February last year.
That was when he turned on a pig-headed performance before refusing to go away in the Interdominion Trotting Final, ironically won by the Wallis-trained Delft.
On occasions Genius has looked something special but his new trainer admits he is still a "fingers-crossed" type of horse.
"He is good enough to win but he needs to be going forward when the tapes go, otherwise he can get a bit upset," she said.
"But even if he begins well he is still not at his peak. After all, he hasn't raced for a long time."
Wallis rates her best winning chance of the night as Russian Rose who has drawn the ace in the first race.
"She beat a smart mare last start and I think she will have the gate speed to lead again this time."
