Wingatui trainer Paul Richards is not too concerned about the decent weight on Natuzzi's back as their raid on the group 3 Concorde Handicap at Ellerslie tomorrow looms.
The absence of any horses rated above 98 means Natuzzi - along with Civics Rock - will carry the top weight of 59kg in the $70,000 feature over 1200m.
The lack of some top sprinters was not what Richards was expecting.
''I was a wee bit surprised, actually. I thought it might have been a stronger field than what it was,'' Richards said.
The ratings in the race stretch from Fleur De Lune on 98, down to Shezhardtocatch who is rated at 63, but the wide range means some progressive sprinters such as last-start winner Beauty Show get in to the race carrying 59kg.
''There are a couple down the bottom [weight] there on 53kg that have been going all right.
''The other thing is you're giving last year's Railway winner [Fleur De Lune] a kilo and a-half, with the way the weights pan out for the fillies and the mares.''
Natuzzi, owned by Bill and Sandra Duell, carried 57.5kg when winning the Lightning Handicap at Trentham in March so Richards said he was not too worried about the 59kg.
The trainer has also found a quality replacement for suspended jockey Chris Johnson, thanks to a chance conversation with a jockey agent up north.
''I was talking to Butch Castles, the racing manager for the Auckland Racing Club, about the travelling subsidy for the horse.
''I knew that he was Leith's [Innes] agent, so I said to him, ''What is Leith riding in [the Concorde]?''. At that stage, he did have one but that didn't pan out, so he jumped on Natuzzi.
''He's ridden for me and the Duells before. He rode Our Santana last year at the cup meeting when he won a maiden there.''
Natuzzi went north in the care of strapper Sigourney Kelly on Monday, arriving in Pukekohe on Wednesday afternoon, and all reports are positive.
''He ate well last night when he got there, and he ate all right on the way through.
''He had a decent hit-out last Saturday before he left and he won't need another one.''
The Coats Choice gelding drew well in barrier 7, and Richards expects no excuses from the draw.
''He'll find a position from there''.
A top-five finish would be a minimum for Richards to press on towards the Railway Stakes on January 1.
''He'd have to go pretty good to carry on, unless there were mitigating circumstances.
''He's fit, he's happy and he's travelled well. We haven't got too many worries with him.''
Rain continued to fall in Auckland yesterday, but it is expected to ease to showers today and tomorrow.
The track was rated as slow7 yesterday - a surface on which Natuzzi is unbeaten in two starts.
