Dean Taylor is grateful his second guessing with Captain Peacock last year paid off as the pair target the feature mobile pace at Forbury Park tonight.
Taylor, who trains at Ladbrooks, southwest of Christchurch, prepared the son of Live Or Die to win the 2010 New Zealand Derby, but it was a gut decision by the team to get the gelding checked out a week before last year's Hannon Memorial, at Oamaru in September, which changed Taylor's plans altogether.
''It could have been quite serious if I had kept going with him,'' Taylor said.
''He was never sore, but things weren't right. We got one of his legs checked out - it wasn't a large tear, but it was a small tear in his medial ligament [on his near side].
''He was boxed for a month and then was in the paddock for a couple of months and we had to bring him up really slowly.''
Taylor had his stable starchecked out before some runs in public and, with no pain evident, he is starting to find his old form.
''He's had four runs at the work-outs. The first couple were quiet sort of runs and he won the next two,'' he said.
''We thought a trip away and another run might be better, before he steps up another step.''
While Captain Peacock gave Taylor a prized derby crown, he is being a lot more patient with Match Point (race 8), who was an unlucky eighth at Timaru after winning on debut at Forbury Park in late January.
The 3yr-old Bettor's Delight gelding needs to gain some muscle before really getting stuck into his racing, Taylor said.
''I reckon he's got a good future, but he's another six or eight months away,'' he said.
''He's light-framed, and every race is a bonus for him at the moment, but once he's gone out [to the paddock] and come back in, you'll be able to line him up and be confident.
''Cowboy (race 4) has lived up to his name at home, as the 3yr-old Courage Under Fire gelding has kept the staff on their toes around the stables.
''He's only a wee chap and early on, by crikey, he was like a kid full of sugar,'' Taylor said.
''Anyway you feel a bit better with him out on the track now. He's genuine.''
Favouritism in the 2yr-old sires' stakes heat should be a battle between Return To Sender and Regulus.
The pair ran second and third respectively, behind Messini in the group 3 Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham, and Return To Sender gained many admirers for his front-running effort.
Hamish Hunter has two first starters in the heat, including McArdle's Ledger, who is a half-brother to Hunter's Auckland Cup hopeful Franco Ledger. His other starter is Pay Me Mach, the first foal of Pay Me Painter, who is a half-sister to Pay Me Christian.
Mark Purdon also has a first starter in the race. Emmanuel won his qualifying trial at Ashburton last month with a 1.59.8 mile before finishing second behind Zacariah at Addington on February 25.
