Bashful Compton (race 8) has slotted in nicely to a 1-2 win 2200m pace and, as the winner of two races, faces only one other two-win rival, Hudson Sully, in the 12-strong field.
The Falcon Seelster 5yr-old has not raced since a sixth at Waterlea on April 28 which Stuart considered a bit unlucky after junior driver Kevin Riddell could not find a gap up the straight.
''He ended up getting knocked over and he would have run second or third,'' Stuart said.
''He's actually my best chance. He's a good beginner and he probably should lead and I'd say he'll be hard to catch.''
Stuart was able to provide a real-time report on Bashful Compton's work yesterday as the gelding returned from a gentle work-out.
''He's actually coming back in from jogging right now and he's looking pretty happy,'' he said.
The experience will do Stuart's other three hopes the world of good as they experience their first trip away.
Deadly Sanction (race 1) joins the likes of Una Bromac and Live The Dream as a trotter by pacing sire Live Or Die and comes into tonight's assignment off a win on Saturday at the Rangiora workouts.
''He started out as a pacer but we went out to gallop him one day, and he took off trotting. He's still got a long way to go, but from what he's done, I'm pretty happy.''
The 3yr-old will start off the unruly mark - a deliberate move from Stuart.
''He's been pacing away, so I put him on the unruly, so Gavin can muck around with him a little bit and give him a bit of space.
Stuart was forced to scratch Lucygohome from the 4yr-old and older non-winners mobile pace (race 2) due to a knee injury, but has 5yr-old mare Melando Magic entered on the back of a run for fourth behind smart juvenile Regulus at the Rangiora work-outs on Saturday.
''She does lack a bit of speed, and she can do things wrong. We'll take it on trust with her.''
Party Girl Deb (race 3) was not in a festive mood at the work-outs on Saturday, even after winning her heat.
''She won at the work-outs the other weekend, but she didn't pace any good, and I changed her shoes last week. So I worked her here on Tuesday and she was horrible.
''The blacksmith came on Wednesday, and we put her old shoes back on.
'' If everything is right with her, expect a good run.
Better To Be Bad continues her preparation for the Harness Jewels with a run against six rivals in the 3-6 win mobile pace.
The daughter of Badlands Hanover sits at fourth on the leaderboard for the 5yr-old mares' division of the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on June 2.
