Mufhasa won the race last year at his third attempt. He is at $4 in final field betting with the TAB, ahead of Ocean Park at $4.60. Mufhasa finished second in 2009 and he was unplaced the following year.
"He [Mufhasa] is very well, possibly even a little more forward than he was this time last season," Stephen McKee, his trainer said.
"He galloped between races at Ruakaka last week, just as he did last season, and I thought this year's work was better.
"So he can definitely win but so much will depend on the weather and the racing pattern." "If the track improves to a dead (6) then he will be really tough to beat but if it stays as a slow (8) or gets worse then it will blunt some of his speed.
"And that could also affect the racing pattern. If they start coming away from the inside it won't suit him at all."
The race has a history dating to 1985 when it was known as the Byerley Thoroughbred Stakes.
Ocean Park is a 4yr-old, the most successful age group in the Challenge Stakes.
Ocean Park won the Wellington Stakes and finished second in the Waikato Guineas and Rosehill Guineas from seven starts last season. Lisa Allpress is his new rider. She rode him to win a trial at Te Teko on August 7.
Chad Ormsby, who rode Ocean Park in his three wins as a 3yr-old, did not renew his licence as a jockey.
He is now training with Michael Moroney at Matamata.
Jason Waddell is the new rider for I Am Sam who won a premier 1400m at the Grand National meeting on August 11 with apprentice Rory Hutchings the rider. Hutchings is riding at Tauranga tomorrow.
Waddell won the Hastings feature on Tavistock in 2009.
I Am Sam had finished fourth in the Winter Cup at Riccarton won by Art Beat, who is again a rival tomorrow. Art Beat missed the final day of the Grand National meeting through a stone bruise. She is the mount on Noel Harris, who has won the Hastings feature on Poetic Prince in 1988, Fritz (2001) and Fritzy Boy (2008).
Fritzy Boy is in the field tomorrow with Jonathan Riddell the rider.
Catering King won the race in 1986 and 1989. He was ridden in his first win by Brett McDonald, whose son, James, has the mount on Guiseppina tomorrow.
McDonald rode Keep The Peace to win in 2010.
Guiseppina struck winning form in the summer, winning the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham and Levin Stakes at Otaki.
She has not raced since February.
Her stablemates with Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Dolmabache and Pure Elegance won heats at the Paeroa trials on Tuesday.
