"I think she is better than ever," Grant Payne, her co-trainer, said from Pukekohe yesterday."
Kylie Ree has not raced since she won the Harness Jewels for 2yr-old trotters at Cambridge in June. The other win last season for the Monarchy filly was the Sires' Stakes Championship against males at Addington in May.
She was scratched last week after an adverse blood test.
"She was just a bit off colour after arriving up here," Payne said.
She is having her first standing start tonight and racing against older horses. She has had standing-start experience at workouts.
The Purdon-Payne stable have Major Mark resuming in the Elsu Classic for 3yr-olds tonight. He was scratched last week when allocated to a race for older horses.
"He had a good workout at Alexandra Park last Friday," Payne said.
Major Mark, who has not raced since August, numbered the Harness Jewels, Sires' Stakes Championship final and Welcome Stakes at Addington and Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park among his wins last season.
He is capable of capitalising on the one barrier draw over 2200m tonight.
Hands Christian (race 1) is poised to repeat his win of last Friday for the Purdon-Payne stable.
Franco Hemmingway, the 2yr-old who was beaten favourite at Alexandra Park on December 3 at his first start, will wear a shadow roll tonight. Franco Hemmingway tangled at the 600m after leading in his race. His trainer, Ken Barron, told stewards that Franco Hemmingway had jumped an object on the track.
Chancellor Cullen, a stablemate of Franco Hemmingway, is again among his rivals. Chancellor Cullen was an impressive winner on December 3.
De Lovely dominates the Queen Of Hearts after her dashing fresh-up win last week in the Northern Breeders' Stakes.
She has won her last eight races.
Carabella, unbeaten in six starts, should not be troubled to extend her record despite drawing wide in race 10.
• The Gil Shirley stable has decided against a start for Vi Et Animo from a 60m handicap in the Wairio Cup on Winton tomorrow.
"The race will probably be run in 3.02 or better for the 2400m and we felt it was just about impossible for him to win," Brent Shirley, the driver of Vi Et Animo, said.
"We will wait for the Central Otago Cup [January 2] and then the Northern Southland Cup."
Vi Et Animo recorded his 14th win when successful over 2700m from a 40m handicap at Ascot Park on December 2.
