The Art Major 4yr-old was cut down by Sunny Two Shoes when leading at Ascot Park on August 11, but Northview Major's trainer, Murray Brown, of Invercargill, said fitness and having to work during the race contributed to the gelding's downfall over 2200m.
''He hadn't raced for a while, and they went 2.44,'' Brown said.
''He went around them, and the one of Mark Jones' [Ready For Takeoff] gave it to us all the way from the 800m.
''It was a good run, and it was a wet track too. His work was good this morning, so he'll take a bit of beating.
Brown said Northview Major had a quiet run yesterday morning, but he showed enough to suggest his barrier draw of two should be enough to get the gelding home.
''This is the first time he's drawn inside six.
''Every time he's led, he's got beaten. I reckon he's better in behind - both time he's been driven in behind, he's won.
''But it's a small field, so it won't matter what happens.''
The 1-win field looks well within Northview Major's capabilities, although Billy The Bus, Shiney Princess, Tic Tac Bromac and Knapdale Lady were in behind Mackenzie Jacob on August 11, form which was franked when Mackenzie Jacob won at Forbury Park last week.
At first glance, Chers Bettor Babe (race 8) seems to have picked up the bad-draw bug from Northview Major, but Brown is not worried about being on the inside of the second line in a 1-win 2200m pace.
''It's not that bad at Gore,'' ''We rate her and she won at the work-outs at the weekend.
''She's only going to be two-back or three-back on the inside. Just the way she's going, she'd take a lot of beating.''
Pay Me Quick (race 6) comes into this race fresh after last racing in February. The McArdle mare has placed third in two work-outs this month.
''[Pay Me Quick] has been all right, but it'll probably need a race. They only went 2.55 for a stand [at the work-outs]. They could go 2.49 and it could need a couple of runs.''
Macardo (race 2) is having just his second start for Brown after his first nine starts were from the Canterbury stable of David and Catherine Butt. Brown expects him to pick up a win at some point, even if it is not from the wide draw of eight at Gore tomorrow.
Terribly Lucky (race 4) has also copped a bad draw of 14 and will need to live up to her name in a fillies and mares' mobile pace.
Oamaru junior driver Brad Williamson has been working for Brown for the past few weeks as Andrew ''Archie'' Armour recovers from a wrist injury. Williamson drives all five of Brown's horses tomorrow.
''He's staying on until Archie gets back. Archie goes back to the specialist next week, so he'll be here for the next couple of weeks anyway.
''Brad goes all right - he knows what he's doing. If they do the work, they get the drives.''
