Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy put the Raise The Flag filly aside after two starts in Canterbury in the spring but not because he was disappointed with them - far from it.
The first foal of Lesley Brook raced twice at Riccarton and her first run in particular, a second placing on September 21, was full of merit after she was awkwardly away.
''She went really good races. They ran pretty quick times up there,'' Kennedy said.
''She just had a break for a couple of months after Christchurch. Hopefully, we'll get through Saturday and go to that listed race [the Champagne Stakes] at Riccarton in May.''
Princess Brook has had one jumpout, in which she ran second, in preparation for her race, and Kennedy can only see her stepping up a level after the 1100m assignment tomorrow.
''She's going to improve a lot with the run, but she's got the ability. She's got the speed to put herself in the race.''
Princess Brook is joined by stablemate Young Issy in the sprint tomorrow, although Kennedy does not see the filly as a ''get-up-and-go'' type of 2yr-old.
''She's probably not a natural 2yr-old, to be fair,'' Kennedy said. She had ability - ''she won't be far away'' - but would be a far better horse as a 3yr-old.
Drumregal deserves a win for consistency if nothing else. Her last four starts since a spell have yielded four second placings, although Kennedy does wonder about the 58.5kg carded weight the mare was handed for tomorrow's race.
''She's been pretty harshly treated by the weights. She won a $7000 maiden and she's rated 68,'' he said.
''I can't see where the handicappers are getting that from, but she seems to be getting penalised for being consistent.''
Toni Direen's 1kg claim will bring Drumregal's weight back to 57.5kg and her good barrier manners will help her land near the front.
''It would just be good to win, with the good stake. She tries hard, and she's got a kilo off.''
Chapel Star's record on the Wingatui track makes him hard to ignore in the open 1600m, even if he was opened at a double-figure quote by the New Zealand TAB bookmakers yesterday.
Three of his five career wins have come at his home track, and he has also earned two placings from nine starts in total.
''He goes really well at Wingatui. The draw's out a bit, but he doesn't like the fence anyway - he's actually better one or two out in the running.''
He had worked well and a big race was expected of him.
Kennedy rates Eldante (race 9) over Swami and Remind Me (both race 7) as the best of his other three entries tomorrow.
''She went a really nice race last start at Invercargill. She didn't have all favours and she was doing really good work at the end. She's drawn out a bit but that won't hurt, as she goes forward.''
