A trip across the Tasman for a tilt at a historic third successive New Zealand Cup hinges on star pacer Swayzee showing his best form at Menangle on Saturday night.
His bid for a rare threepeat was dealt a blow when he suffered a setback with a bowel infection, forcing him out of his planned title defence in the Victoria Cup earlier this month.
Swayzee is yet to win this time in but the form through his last hitout on October 4 was franked when the horse that beat him home – Kingman – went on to topple Leap To Fame in the Victoria Cup.
The seven-year-old's recent form may not match what he showed prior to last year's trip to Addington – he went into that race off three straight wins including the Victoria Cup – but connections haven't given up hope of getting him to Christchurch for his shot at history.
The trip will come down to his performance in Saturday's Graham McNeice Memorial where he'll start from the outside barrier.
The mile is generally considered to be short of his best but his strike rate at the distance is 50 per cent and he loves Menangle, winning eight of 13 visits.
He tackles some smart rivals including Max Delight and Horn Player but his fans will be hoping for a big win to book his spot on the plane to New Zealand.
A pair of smart eastern state three-year-olds have headed in the other direction in search of Group 1 glory, taking on the WA Derby at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Its Confidential and Sweet On Lexy have both gone west off last-start Group 1 placings, the former in the Victoria Derby.
His 3.3m third from a back row draw continued his consistent form having won the Victoria Sires 3YO Classic earlier in the month.
Its Confidential has had of series of second line barriers so can be expected to push forward from a better draw in the Derby.
Sweet On Lexy starts from a few spots wider but is very consistent having added to a string of wins and placings when third in last Saturday's Breeders Challenge 3CG Final at Menangle.
It's been a big week for the gelding who has crossed the Nullarbor to take his place in Perth just six days later but he showed his toughness when working from the back row to win the Listed Canola Cup at Eugowra three starts back.
Setbacks for a few of the top WA players has weakened the local assault in the Derby with Rumble Strip from the inside draw possibly the best hope while WA Oaks winner Fakenit is also in contention from a favourable barrier.
There's more Derby action on Sunday with the three-year-old square gaiters chasing a Group 1 prize in the Victorian Trotters Derby at Maryborough.
Star filly Gatesys Gem already has a Derby under her belt having beaten the boys in the NSW version at Menangle in May.
She has been runner-up in both starts since her resuming win, chasing another quality filly in Tracy The Jet in the Victorian Oaks before being edged out in her Derby heat, but she'll be at peak fitness and draws to push forward.
Her main rival looks to be Commodus who cops a second row draw but has won his last three starts, highlighted by the Need For Speed Prince final.
The juvenile trotters will also be chasing a Group 1 win in the Redwood Classic where the lightly-raced but promising Notanotha Naughty will be well fancied after a strong heat win.
