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The chances of Otago claiming a win in Friday night's New Zealand Derby at Addington do not rest solely on the shoulders of star Westwood Beach pacer Eamon Maguire.
Alhough Eamon Maguire is the only horse in the race trained in the province, four Derby chances - including leading contender Ultimate Machete - have an Otago connection.
The Graeme Anderson-trained Eamon Maguire comes into the race off a creditable third behind Delightful Memphis in sizzling time at Winton last month.
Placing in a 1.51.9 mile after sitting parked throughout the race is a huge effort in itself, but there was even more merit to the run.
The horse was not quite himself in his lead-up to the race or during the running, Anderson said.
Despite the huge run, Anderson is not brimming with confidence his horse can beat New Zealand's best 3yr-olds from his tricky barrier 12.
''Realistically, we are going there because he deserves his place; we are not going there to expect to win.'' he said.
Anderson has engaged former Otago-based trainer-driver Jonny Cox to drive Eamon Maguire after his regular pilot, Dexter Dunn, chose to stick with his Northern Derby winner, Rakaupuka Ruler.
Among the other contenders with an Otago connection is Canterbury trainer Tim Butt's unbeaten up-and-comer Let It Ride, who has drawn beside Eamon Maguire in barrier 13.
Let It Ride is also in search of a new driver, as Dunn has also been the Rock N Roll Heaven pacer's regular reinsman.
Deep Stream couple Bruce Masson and Virginia Duncum share in the ownership of the four-race winner.
Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen's powerful 3yr-old, Ultimate Machete, has drawn barrier 1, which could make him impossible to get past.
That is good news for Mosgiel breeder-owners Phil and Margaret Creighton, who look to hold the biggest chance of bringing the Derby silverware to blue and gold country.
They not only share in the ownership of favourite Ultimate Machete, but also part-race fellow Derby runner and stablemate Stars Align.
Anderson's Titan Banner will also attempt to bring home Addington silverware earlier in the night. The 5yr-old is set to lock horns with former stablemate Lazarus in group 3 free-for-all company.
Titan Banner finished third to Lazarus in the New Zealand Cup in November when the pair last met, although much has happened since.
Lazarus launched himself to superstar status with his New Zealand Cup win and cemented that with a winning spree in Australia in January-February.
Titan Banner also took his game to a new level with phenomenal wins in Auckland in December, before his season went pear-shaped.
A tough run spoiled his chances in the Auckland Cup before injury prevented Titan Banner from joining Lazarus on his Australian raid.
The pacer's rehabilitation process has involved him returning to Anderson at Westwood Beach where he has got back on track with a recent Wyndham Cup win and Northern Southland Cup second placing.
Those performances and his recent training have Anderson confident the horse is back to his absolute best.
''He will be better going into the Easter Cup for the run, but he is very, very well.''
-By Jonny Turner