A host of first-day heat form is brought together in race 8 to form the $10,000 Graduation Final field.
Sunday's heat winners, Zimfandel and Maddisons Desire, head the field, but there were several useful runs in behind them.
Maddisons Desire came with a sustained run to hold off all challengers in a busy finish, which impressed her driver, Jonny Cox.
``She has got a really good 200m in her, but I had to go at the 400m. To hang on like that was pretty brave, I thought.''
Despite her tricky 14 barrier draw over today's 1800m, Cox's biggest concern is the possibility of a wet track.
``She has got plenty of speed. If the track is soft it definitely won't suit her.''
The reinsman also felt she could have improved a little in fitness, given that race was only her second start this season.
Regal Gesture raced outside the leader before hitting the front a long way from home, only to be claimed late by Maddisons Desire. In the same heat, Silver Dale was held up until the final 150m, before unwinding into third.
In the first of the two qualifying heats for today's final, Zimfandel darted along the pegs to claim Parting Gesture, who also did it tough outside the leader. In behind them, Matai Jetstar produced an eye-catching finish out wide to grab third.
The unlucky runner was Aidan Junior who lacked racing room. He went to the line almost untested. His luck did not change when the draws for today's final were released, and he starts from the outside of the front line.
Silver Dale, in barrier 2, and Zimfandel (3) fared best of the form runners from the heats.
Cox drives a newcomer to themeeting, Living Glory, in race 4 today for Templeton trainer Peter Robertson.
The 6yr-old put in a flashing finish to run second behind Happy Styx at place odds of over $11 in her latest start at Addington.
``They just went an even tempo and didn't run home really quick. She made good ground up and only just got beat.''
Cox is not optimistic about the horse handling the track if rain does come. The 6yr-old is unplaced in three runs on wet-rated grass tracks.
Cox got Ygritte's form back on track with a trotting win on Sunday, after a run of outs.
``She did things right for a change. She showed a turn of speed that she's always had.''
The driver rates her the best chance of his three drives for Waikouaiti trainer Amber Hoffman. He also drives Heard The Whisper in race in race 7 and Raphoe in race 10.
- by Jonny Turner
