One Otago-bred horse is on the back foot going into Saturday night's Miracle Mile in Sydney, but things are going in the opposite direction for another.
Field Marshal will start the $A750,000 ($NZ801,000) race at the absolute peak of his powers for his Mosgiel owner-breeders, Syd and Shona Brown.
The horse powered into second placing and straight past star pacer Lazarus in a warm-up race at Menangle won by Tiger Tara last Saturday night.
Field Marshal made up many lengths on the winner in the straight and was officially clocked to run a sizzling 25.56sec for the last 400m.
The Miracle Mile has been thrown wide open given the below-par performance of Lazarus and the fact he has drawn on the outside of the arm barrier.
Field Marshal will start from barrier 4 and looks a genuine contender, but the Browns are keeping their feet on the ground.
''I am a realist and I know we are first of all stoked to be in the field, and second . . . there are seven other very worthy runners,'' Syd Brown said.
''We will just just take our chances and hope like hell we can finish as far up the pecking order as we can.
''It is the first time we have had a favourable draw in a big race so let's hope we can take advantage of it.''
The Browns' main hope is that Field Marshal can match or better the effort of his dam, Foreal.
She ran fifth behind Be Good Johnny in the 2005 edition of the race at Harold Park.
''It is something you dream about, having a runner in the Miracle Mile. We have had one once before.
''We are looking to go at least as well if not better if we can.''
