The O'Reilly mare has the Trentham Stakes on January 19 as her target race, and Wingatui trainer Steve Anderton is worried she enjoyed her time off after her spring campaign a little too much.
She ran a meritorious fourth to Nashville in the group 2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile in November, although her staying credentials did not quite suit in the end.
''I just felt she was really ready to step to more ground,'' Anderton said.
''She's more a staying type of horse and while she can get away with the mile fresh up, I thought probably that third run up, she lacked that sprint those other three had on her.''
Anderton gave the 5yr-old 10 days off after the mile on November 14 and he is conscious of her fitness.
''I'm picking she won't be too far from them, but she's just done a wee bit too well [during her time off] and she'll benefit from the run,'' he said.
''Whether she's a winning chance... she's probably more a place chance, I think.
Her draw of 11 will also force the hand of jockey Chris Johnson, especially as Anderton does not want the mare to work too hard.
El Chico backs up from his big Wingatui run for second, stepping up another 400m in distance. He carries 59kg, while The Solitaire will carry 57kg.
The Steven Prince-trained Chaparella is another Otago contender in the $50,000 feature, although she only drops 1kg from the 54kg she carried to third in the easier Queenstown Cup at Cromwell on December 2. Prince has added side winkers to the mare while he has also switched the bit on Ric O'Shea, taking a tongue control bit off and putting a lugging bit on.
The Riccarton pair of Keep The Conflict and Essential shape as fine chances.
