Champion and Murphy are taking five gallopers for today's nine-race card, and Champion is giving a big tick to the track and the club itself.
''The whole reason we're going is that it's a nice track, it's a good club and it's just a nice way to go towards Cup Week,'' he said.
Most of the pair's runners will be seeking more ground as the season goes on, but Champion said they could feature in the placings today.
Velluto is one being aimed deep into the season, particularly a 2500m listed race Trentham on March 18.
''Our later goal is the St Leger,'' Champion said.
''He's a genuine good staying type and he's pretty fit. He just needs the track pretty good.''
The track was rated as good2 yesterday afternoon. MetService had forecast showers overnight and today but the track is unlikely to downgrade to dead4 unless considerable rain falls.
The son of Red Giant won his last two starts over 2000m and 1800m in the second half of last season, and Champion expects the early pace to slightly catch out the 4yr-old over 1600m.
''They'll run him off his feet a bit and he gets back. I'd just like to see him midfield and running home. He's as fit as we can get him and he'll improve with the run.''
Little Haast showed plenty in her 3yr-old year, without claiming a win. She was second in the listed Warstep Stakes last season, but still returns as a maiden after missing the winner's cheque in seven starts.
''She's probably the most unlucky maiden around, even in those listed races,'' he said.
''She's a nice 2000m horse in the making this season. She's another one that we'll be looking for something after Christmas. But she'll run a sneaky race over 1400m and she'll hit the line well.''
Champion and Murphy have been waiting a while to get Madam Libre to the races. She won a trial in February 2015 and won another trial this February by five lengths before going amiss.
''We've just had a few setbacks with her each time she's trialled - only little issues but nothing too bad,'' he said.
''It's just that every time we've had her up, she's got herself hurt. After her last trial, it was just a paddock injury when she was running around and bumped herself.''
Champion said the Librettist mare was smart and a ''miler in the making'' and they had opted to take her straight to the races.
''She's actually quite big but we didn't want to waste a trial on her, and we wanted to give her a run going into the New Zealand Cup meeting. She'll run an honest race.''
Rionius (race 5) should enjoy a much better trip from barrier 2 after getting stuck wide at Timaru on October 7.
''He beats himself a bit and he can get on one rein a bit if he's got horses inside him,'' Champion said.
''It was just the way he jumped and got up there because he's quite competitive. But with the nicer draw we'll be hopefully riding him for a sit and you'll definitely see a better horse.''
Bobby Al (race 9) will be looking for a longer trip in future starts, but Champion said his work had been ''super''.
