Maurice McKendry, the trainer-driver of Percy The Punter, said his horse deserved a shot at the New Zealand Cup on November 9.
"He has run the times and follows the speed well. The final decision will be up to Gerald [Shand, owner] but I'm keen to go because he is ready," McKendry said.
Percy The Punter had to come from the second line when resuming from a two-and-a-half-month break at his last start to run Trigirl Brigade to a head.
Trigirl Brigade is again among his rivals.
Paul Kerr, the trainer of Auditor General, expects a big improvement from the entire.
"He had not been eating well leading into that last race but he has settled in much better now. The way he has been working I think he will improve a lot."
Real Deal Yankee will struggle to give Great Getaway a 20m start in race 5 in the opinion of their trainer, John Dickie.
The pair are resuming from spells.
Great Getaway has not raced since finishing third to I Can Doosit and Dr Hook in the Harness Jewels at Cambridge. She is off 10m tonight.
"There really isn't a lot between them any more," Dickie said Real Deal Yankee had been the better horse.
Both easily won workouts at Cambridge recently.
Going by their work, "I think Real Deal will struggle to give her 20m," Dickie said.
Josh Dickie, a son of the trainer, takes the reins of Real Deal Yankee.
Don Giovanni is the horse to beat. He left stride at his last start but won his previous two races like a horse headed to the top grade.
