The proven ability of Solid Steal in heavy ground at Trentham could be the deciding factor in the Wellington Hurdles tomorrow.
Solid Steal won the race last year with 63kg and he has won his other hurdles race at Trentham by 22 lengths.
The Paul Nelson-trained grey has raced three times in a fresh campaign for a second two starts back to Victory Morgan in the Awapuni Hurdles and a last-start third on the flat.
Victory Morgan has to be considered with 63.5kg, 0.5kg more than he carried in the Awapuni Hurdles. Shaun Phelan is the replacement rider for Richard Eynon, who is sidelined after concussion.
Counter Punch, who heads the field with 68kg, won the 2009 Wellington Hurdles with 67kg.
Bragato will gain a 3kg weight relief from his top weight of 59kg in the Whyte Handicap with Lisa Whelan the rider. Whelan, who has ridden 10 winners in her first season, will be riding Bragato for the first time.
Bragato won the Wellington Cup Prelude (2100m) at Trentham in January. Bragato, who is trained at Otaki by part-owner Richard Joostens, won the weight-for-age Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Wanganui last month after finishing second to I Am Sam on a heavy track in the North Island Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham.
