A familiar strip of turf could encourage a form reversal for Brah Spring at Cromwell tomorrow.
The daughter of Darci Brahma is one of two runners for Timaru trainer Murray Tapper in the rating 85 1400m, after she and stablemate Alice Webb Ellis ran fifth and fourth respectively at Omakau yesterday.
Yesterday's effort over 1400m was the pair's first run since they trekked across to the West Coast.
Brah Spring's last run was a distant 12th to Kaharau at Greymouth, although subsequent efforts from Kaharau lifts her effort slightly in retrospect.
''They had a wee bit of a break then came here for the dry tracks,'' Tapper said.
"Brah Spring likes these tight, turning tracks - that's her go.''
What could work in Brah Spring's favour is her past record on the course.
While she was not a factor at Cromwell in late November, she was a winner at the corresponding meeting last March.
The main problem for Tapper is how to place the Darci Brahma mare as she matures.
"1400m might be too short for her now, I don't know,'' Tapper said.
"Sixteen hundred metres seems too far for her and 1400m is too short so I'm getting a bit buggered, to be honest.''
The 5yr-old won four races last season, meaning she had to resume further up in the grades this season, although the level of competition hasn't been the only problem.
"We've had issues with her this time - she's always had niggling problems and then with tracks and average rides in between. Last season things went her way and this season nothing is going her way.''
Alice Webb Ellis adopted a front-running role at Omakau and may do the same from barrier 4 tomorrow.
"She is best in front or outside the leader - she doesn't try too hard from in behind.''
Courtney Barnes rides Brah Spring, and Rebecca Black will take the reins aboard Alice Webb Ellis.
Tips from the talent
• Shankar Muniandy:
Hessonite (Race 4, No 8)
• Steve Tyler:
Baranoo (Race 4, No 1)
• Courtney Barnes:
All Things Nice (Race 6, No 2)
• Toni Direen:
Norah (Race 7, No 3)
• Kelvin Tyler:
The Energizer (Race 6, No 5)
