The 7yr-old mare should be installed as a warm favourite when the fixed-odds markets open this morning, despite facing her widest barrier draw in three starts at Addington, thanks to the preferential barrier draw in place for tonight.
The daughter of Washington VC has managed to get to the lead at Addington in her two heats - if not immediately, then within the first few hundred metres.
But the barrier draw of 6 in the eight-horse $11,000 final has co-trainer and driver Jonny Cox putting his thinking cap on.
''Every start she's got more confident behind the gate, and last start she wanted to run the gate by herself which is a good thing,'' Cox said.
''It's only going to be her fifth start on Friday night and she's learning all the time.
''She's led in her last two for sure and sat parked here at Forbury, but I think she's just as good coming off the back of them. If that's the way it's going to work out, I'll be more than happy to take a sit on them.''
New Years Jay and Natural Courage are the only horses in the 6yr-old and older field with fewer than 10 starts. All Delight, with 35 starts, is the next least-experienced while the 37-start gelding Smoken Roman looks like the major threat.
''To me, she's the horse to beat, but there are a couple of others who with the right run can scare us and can beat us,'' Cox said.
''We'll just go out there, let her do her own thing, get around the first corner and go from there.''
Cox was surprised how well trotter Jaccka Justy performed when he had his first run for the season at the Wyndham trials on August 27, beating Queen Kenny.
''He trialled down at Wyndham probably better than I expected and he's definitely not far off,'' Cox said.
''He's got a good fresh record and the more trips he's had to Addington, the more he's enjoyed it.
''But it's a run and it's a stepping stone towards something else. There are three or four others in the same boat having their first run back for the season and a couple of them who have been racing through the winter that are going to be hard to beat.''
King Kenny is one of the trotters who has been kept up to the mark over the winter, his most recent run on July 18 producing a third.
His trainer, Graeme Anderson, was happy with Monday's second at the Rangiora trials behind Clover Don, another race rival tonight.
Cox will also drive another of Anderson's horses, Ballindooley, who is in the deep end in the group 3 Maurice Holmes Vase, but has the confidence of beating Terror To Love and others in a trial at Rangiora on Monday.
''Obviously, Christen Me is the horse to beat, but if he can finish in the top five, Graeme would be pretty happy with that,'' Cox said.
After overcoming a 30m handicap to win his seasonal debut last start, Christen Me meets key rival Locharburn 20m better off tonight and has also had the good fortune to draw barrier 4 in the 2600m standing start.
All of which adds up to him being in front with a lap to go and taking another winning step towards his main aim, the New Zealand Cup on November 11.
Locharburn is joined in the support cast by Tiger Tara, Jason Rulz, Pass Them By and Pure Power.
- Additional reporting Michael Guerin
