The group 1 winning rider will pair with leading Gore Guineas chance Weaponry in his first race day since November.
Laking has not ridden in a race since winning with Imeldas Girl on the last day of the New Zealand Cup carnival. He has rides today in his comeback from a broken jaw.
"I am all good now and raring to go," Laking said.
Weaponry will attempt to keep his unbeaten record intact in the Gore Guineas.
The colt impressed in winning his two North Island races leading in to the 1355m listed feature.
The 3yr-old ran on the speed to win his maiden on a soft track at Rotorua in November.
He then sat off the speed to win his second start at Ruakaka last month on a good track.Laking said that kind of versatility would be a key weapon in today’s $50,000 feature.
"He is pretty adaptable — every time he has won he has won with a different style.
"He has drawn nicely, so he should get a nice enough run behind them.
"It is not a great field compared to the last couple of years, when a few more North Islanders come down.
"So, it is his for the winning, just hopefully he gets the right run in transit and he has got it there at the finish."
Jamie Richards has had Weaponry stationed in his old stomping ground at Wingatui ahead today’s race.
Those watching the horse in track work at Wingatui should see a different version of Weaponry today.
"He has travelled down in good order," Richards said.
"He has never been a flash track worker — you would never back him off the way he works."But when he gets the hood on on race day, he really goes to the next level."
Weaponry, who has drawn perfectly in gate 2, was opened a $2.20 favourite for the Gore Guineas by bookmakers.
Fox In Socks, the only other North Island galloper in the field, opened as the second favourite at $5.50.
The Shaune Richie-trained 3yr-old had prep run ahead of today’s feature when running third at Waikouaiti on New Years Day.
Richie said before that event his filly would gain good improvement from the run as Fox And Socks progressed towards the Gore Guineas.
South Island hopes in the race are headed by Fire Show and Khimar War (pictured), who were rated the third and fourth favourites for the race respectively.
The John and Karen Parsons-trained Fire Show comes into today’s race without racing since late October.
In his last campaign, Fire Show showed he was competitive in black type events leading in to the Two Thousand Guineas.
Khimar War will need more luck than he had in his last outing at Wingatui to get a victory in today’s race.
The Lance Robinson-trained galloper could not get out until late in the straight when he took on a handy line up of 3yr-olds at Wingatui on Boxing Day.
Khimar War could not get clear until very late, and flashed home after bumping with other runners.
