Te Aroha could be the home away from home for two Wingatui mares shooting for group 1 glory on Saturday - just the other way around.
The Diamond One and Include will tackle the country's best miler mares in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes on a track which is similar to their home track of Wingatui - albeit in a clockwise direction.
Include's co-owner, Wayne Stewart, has been in Te Aroha for the past week with the 4yr-old and was joined on Sunday by jockey Courtney Barnes, who will have her first group 1 ride on her favourite mare.
''It's like Wingatui. It's got a massive big chute for 600m then a sweeping bend,'' Stewart said.''
Courtney and I walked the track on Sunday. It's a lovely big track.''
Barnes was getting her eye in with a ride at Matamata yesterday and will have a ride on Arite Guru in race 1 on Saturday. Stewart said Barnes had well and truly earned her chance at steering Include in a group 1.''
It's in her blood to get to this level,'' he said.
''I think she'll take it in her stride - she's pretty relaxed. This season she's ridden [Include] perfect every time.''
Barnes' arrival on Sunday means she has been on board Include in her work, which will help the combination on Saturday.''
I think it was good to get her here and get a feel for the place.''
The Wingatui mares had differing fortunes when the barrier draws were made.
Stewart was happy with barrier 9, which will become barrier 8 when the ballots come out.''
I thought anywhere from 8 in was going to be a good spot.''
The Diamond One, however, has drawn barrier 16 and will move in two spots after ballots.
Her co-trainer, Claire Anderton, said ''assistance'' from her late husband Steven might come in handy, reflecting on The Diamond One's unforgettable run to win the White Robe Lodge in February just days after his death.
''Hopefully Steven will help us with that again,'' she said.
The country's best apprentice jockey, Rory Hutchings, will jump aboard to shoot for the pair's third consecutive win. Anderton said the awkward draw was ''Rory's problem now''.
Claire Anderton's own challenge has been The Diamond One but the Tale Of The Cat mare has thrived at the Tuhikaramea stables of Graeme and Debbie Rogerson.
''She's really good - she settled in really well, working well, eating well, so we've got no complaints at the moment with her,'' she said.
The Diamond One's last piece of fast work was on Saturday and should top her off nicely.
''She went in company with one of Debbie's horses and worked nicely - it was a good, strong hit-out.
''I'm very happy with her and we've certainly got no excuses going in.''
