Tennis Ball, who will be having his first start on grass, looks the horse to beat in the $35,000 Methven Cup tomorrow.
Tennis Ball has won seven of his 15 starts.
The 6yr-old was a splendid third to Bondy and Monkey King, with Mr Feelgood fourth, at his last start in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on September 29.
That was his second start in a new campaign.
He had won first up at Addington.
Brendon Hill, the trainer of Tennis Ball, has a strong second string in Harley Earl, winner of eight of his 18 starts.
Harley Earl won first up at Rangiora and followed that with a third to Highview Tommy and Move Over in the Superstars Championship at Addington last Friday night.
Harley Earl has won on the grass at Motukarara and Reefton.
The Cavalla Bloodstock of Robert Famularo, who races Tennis Ball and Harley Earl, won the Methven Cup with Baileys Dream, trained by Steven Reid, in 2007 in the hands of Ricky May, who drives Harley Earl.
Angela's Dream showed determination when fourth equal with tomorrow's race rival Seel The Dream when she resumed at Motukarara last Sunday.
She started from 30m and did plenty of work.
She will start from 10m.
Anthony Butt has taken over from Dexter Dunn, who is committed to Tennis Ball.
• Holmezy was a late scratching at Forbury Park on Thursday night when found to be lame in her preliminary.
Whozya Mumma was disqualified from fourth in race 10 after tangling at the start, causing severe interference to Jan Ullrich, Gidget Bromac, and Love Actually.
Georgina Castleton was disqualified from fourth in race 1 for leaving stride in the closing stages.
Solar Flash, the five-win trotter, is now trained by Terry and Glenys Chmiel.
The 7yr-old was previously trained by part-owner, Tori Jordan.
Solar Flash has not won since May 2007.
