Steven Anderton would understand if Hexie Hao's unbeaten record at Wingatui ended on Friday - but only if his stablemate was the one to do it.
Anderton lines up Hexie Hao and The Diamond One in the listed 1200m on Boxing Day, giving the Wingatui trainer a powerful one-two combo for the feature sprint.
The Diamond One is one of the class acts of the field, but Hexie Hao has impressed since coming south from the North Island and is yet to taste defeat in four starts at Wingatui.
Perhaps the difference between the two this week could be in the draws. The Diamond One has drawn ideally at barrier 1 for the short run to the turn, while Hexie Hao has drawn out wider in barrier 9 after landing sweet draws in his previous starts down south.
Asked to split the pair, Anderton thought for a second before opting for the mare.
''I'd probably say The Diamond One, but it wouldn't surprise me if the other fellow stepped up,'' he said.
''It's his biggest test down here to date - it's a good field he's meeting - but he won't be too far away. He will be running on anyway.''
The Diamond One missed a jumpout last week but has had three gallops to tighten her up for this assignment.
''She had a good hitout in a gallop and she's had a couple since then, so I'm not too worried about it,'' he said.
''It's a good draw - she can go forward, but hopefully she can get a wee bit of cover, which would be nice. She just needs that cover to get her to relax a wee bit - so she should get a good run from there.''
Hexie Hao had a jumpout at the start of the month and had a final hitout yesterday morning.
''They both galloped this morning over 600m and they both worked really nice.
''He'll probably slot in midfield - he's drawn out a little this time. It's the first time he's had a bad draw - but looking at his record up north, he can come from back a bit as well.''
It's far from a two-horse race, though, with last-start winner Sucre and El Chico joined by the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained Valiant as genuine chances.
The Terry Kennedy-trained pair of Chapel Star and Drumregal are not without a hope, while Rewa will be fitter for her last-start second at Riccarton on December 5.
Steven Anderton rates Movida (race 8) as the best of his five other chances even after lobbing barrier 13 in the first of two rating 65 1600m races.
She was a bold fourth at Wingatui on December 10.
''She probably should have been closer last time - I wasn't too happy with the ride - but she's done well,'' he said.
''She's got a bad draw so she'll get back a wee bit. I'll look at putting her over 2000m next time.''
Typhoon joins Movida in the same race, and he will probably be up near the front early.
''He races on the speed and he just keeps giving. We're hoping we can pick up one or two with him down there.''
Lucille (race 10) should benefit from the handy draw of 5 in the second rating 65 1600m and Anderton reported the mare had done ''really well'' since her third at Invercargill.
Landales Gold (race 4) would be better with experience, Anderton said.
