Statistics will be on Princess Brook's side when she lines up in next month's Winter Cup at Riccarton.
The Terry Kennedy-trained 5yr-old will take her first step towards the 1600m group 3 feature with a 1200m open handicap start at Oamaru on Sunday.
That programme will have the mare going into the Riccarton feature second-up - a position that she has been lethal from in the past - with her four starts for two wins and a placing.
Princess Brook's 1600m record reads identically to her second-up record, also with four starts over a mile for two wins and a placing, only adding to her claim in the race.
Princess Brook returns to the track after a four-week spell following a campaign in which she raced over a range of distances this season.
The Raise The Flag mare won between 1400m and 2200m, placed at 2400m and tackled the 3200m of last year's New Zealand Cup.
Kennedy plans to tighten that distance range in the new season.
''There is some good racing for her in late September. We will concentrate on the middle-distance races; we won't be stepping her up any further.
''She has been placed over 2400m, but her guts got her that far. I think she is a bit too much brilliance for that distance.''
Kennedy is taking a wait-and-see approach to Sunday's race.
''Hopefully she gets a nice run. She hasn't won over 1200m, so you would not be expecting a great deal.''
Though he has a long way to go to emulate Princess Brook's record, Bakela already has one thing over his stablemate: a brilliant 1200m win next to his name.
Kennedy lined the 3yr-old fresh up over the distance last month at Oamaru, where he powered to a victory that surprised some punters but not his trainer.
''He has always shown plenty of promise.
''We thought he could win his first race as a 2yr-old but he missed the kick and we turned him out after that.''
The Bachelor Duke 3yr-old will step up to 1400m on Sunday and could possibly join Princess Brook in contesting races over the Grand National carnival at Riccarton.
''Maybe - we will see how he gets through Sunday, but he is good enough to go up there,'' Kennedy said.
