Two plum draws have given Geoff and Jude Knight a great chance to begin the Southland harness racing season in style tomorrow.
The Knights line up nine horses at Ascot Park in the first harness meeting for the season south of Oamaru, and the draws for Tagataese and Imperial Ace make the pair hard to ignore in their respective races.
Imperial Ace's barrier 1 draw makes him the one to beat in the c1 4yr-old and older 2200m mobile pace.
The 5yr-old has compiled an impressive record in his five starts, winning twice and finishing no further back than fourth in his other three starts.
''We're very happy with him,'' Geoff Knight said.
''He got a wee bit of an injury and then he got a cold, so things went a bit wrong towards the end of the season.
But he had a good trial at Oamaru and he's had a couple of hit-outs at home, so he's as forward as we can get him without being really race fit.
''From the draw, I'd say that he's going to get a good trip anyway, so he should be right in the hunt.''
Knight said the son of Bettor's Delight looked like one of the best in the Roxburgh stable for the season ahead.
''We think he'll go a wee way. He's come a long way and he'll go a bit further yet.''
Tagataese heads a two-pronged attack for the Knights in the c2-c3 mobile pace, and the 5yr-old is likely to punch out from the mobile gate and take the lead from barrier 1.
''From there he's an obvious leader,'' Knight said.
''He's got gate speed and he loves rolling along in front, so those will be our tactics, anyway.
Tagataese's only run since his second placing in the claimers' final in June was a forgettable one, finishing last in a nine-horse field at Oamaru on July 13.
''He hit the footrests and over-raced in a torrid sort of race, so discount that one. This is a different set-up for him, so hopefully, he's in the hunt.''
Vincennes is an intriguing mare, making her debut for the stable after the Knights spotted her in the classifieds in the Harness Racing Weekly.
The daughter of Bettor's Delight has had 44 starts for just one win, but showed promise early in her career, running second on debut behind smart filly La Norvic De Milo at Alexandra Park in February 2012.
''We got her out of the Weekly and she's the big improver in the team,'' Knight said.
''[Her previous trainer] Gavin Smith said to us she's a bit of a handful in the cart and we've just tried things a little bit different and she's been absolutely perfect.''
The 5yr-old ran second at the Oamaru trials on July 26 before winning a workout at Gore on Saturday.
''The draw's going to be tricky for her, but she's very fit and very ready.
''If she got any kind of a trip and got handy, she'd take some beating.''
Tartan Trilogy starts in Vincennes' race and will provide Maruia Parker with her first race-day drive.
''He's the kind of horse that will really suit her, so it will be a nice day out for her.''
