KEY POINTS:
Cambridge's Murray Baker is one of the few trainers who is not concerned about the prospect of rain for tomorrow's $700,000 Mercedes Derby.
When his runner Nom Du Jeu won on debut at Pukekohe, the track was so heavy it took them forever to come down the home straight.
Nom Du Jeu assured himself of plenty of Derby support when he was desperately unlucky when only 10th behind Red Ruler in the Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on February 16.
Nom Du Jeu and rider Noel Harris were stopped in their tracks when a narrow gap along the inside closed at the 220m.
Murray Baker struggles to come up with a negative around the horse for tomorrow's major classic.
"He'll see the trip out," he said.
Nom Du Jeu has always looked a touch weak for his large frame, but is strengthening all the time.
"He's still improving," sa id Baker.
Nom Du Jeu is a back runner and had drawn mid-field.
"He'll get back and he'll run on and he's one of the runners that will definitely get the 2400m."
C'est La Guerre, multiple Guineas winner Fritzy Boy and Sircross are others that should not be affected if the rain comes. C'est La Guerre is unbeaten in two starts on slow tracks, as is Fritzy Boy and Sircross has been placed in his two slow track races.
