Waterloo Sunset has always been a beast of a trotter but the rest of the game is falling in to place this season as he heads to Orari tomorrow.
The superbly-bred son of champion stallion Sundon and former Rowe Cup winner Inspire has won twice this season from five starts and placed second twice, including to the country's leading trotter, Stent, at Kaikoura last month.
The entire, who served four mares this breeding season, has barely put a hoof wrong, other than on New Zealand Cup Day when he broke shortly after the start and started pacing.
''He used to get a bit wound up early and do it in most of his starts early on,'' driver Bob Butt explained.
''You used to have to close your eyes, put the reins on the dust sheet and hope when you opened them back up, he would be back trotting.''
Waterloo Sunset's slip-up was forgotten three days later though, as he began superbly and turned the tables on Prince Fearless - a 13-length winner on New Zealand Cup Day - to win and remind people of his considerable talents.
''The difference was we made a flyer on Friday and [Prince Fearless] was a bit slow away. On Cup Day [Prince Fearless] was straight to the front and I lost 20m. Whoever made the best beginning, won.''
Butt has driven the 6yr-old in all 23 of his starts so has watched him develop from a tank with intelligence issues in to a trotting machine.
''He's just such a big horse it's taken him a bit of time,'' Butt said.
''He's a monster but he's always had heaps of ability. He used to be a bit funny in his races, but he's more of a race horse now.''
His progression towards the open-class ranks continues in the feature handicap trot at Orari tomorrow, where the Paul Nairn-trained squaregaiter starts off 20m.
''If he hits it right he can make a great beginning,'' Butt said.
''He will be fit enough - Paul's an unreal trainer so he'll be spot on. He's the best horse in the field but you still need a little bit of luck.''
Pegasus Dream, which beat Waterloo Sunset at Methven last month, is the major threat, but challenges could also come from last-start winners The Earth Moved and Experiment.
Alta Ronaldo is not a complete novice to grass as he takes his place in the $18,500 Geraldine Cup.
The 4yr-old is yet to have an official race start on grass, but did get an early look at the surface as a 2yr-old when winning a trial at Methven in February last year.
His spot on the front line gives co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon the chance to dictate the race and make the task very difficult for 40m backmarkers Choise Achiever and Mighty Flying Mac.
Maverick and Itz Bettor To Win will be popular with punters, and Jack Hammer will attract some interest in his first start for Woodend Beach trainers Greg and Nina Hope.
