North Island gallopers Sherwood Forest and Travelling Light boosted their guineas race hopes at the New Zealand Cup carnival at opposite ends of the country on Saturday.
Travelling Light took the favourite's tag for the One Thousand Guineas from Kali and kept her unbeaten record intact by winning the 1400m Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie.
At Riccarton, Sherwood Forest showed off his ability to run a strong 1600m when winning the War Decree Stakes for 3yr-olds.
The Tony Pike-trained galloper came into the group 3 feature on the back of a horror run behind Catalyst in the Hawke's Bay Guineas on October 5.
Sherwood Forest set himself up for another tough passage when he jumped slowly and tailed the field early. But rider Troy Harris got him balanced and worked him into the race from the 600m.
Sherwood Forest then produced a big finish to win by three-quarters of a length from Chuck A Luck.
As a result, the Fastnet Rock gelding tightened to become the $8 second-favourite behind Catalyst ($1.15) for next month's Two Thousand Guineas.
Kali, also trained by Pike, eased to $5 and second-favourite after Travelling Light was moved in to a $3.40 quote to win the One Thousand Guineas.
Travelling Light, trained by Ben Foote at Cambridge, began well in the Soliloquy for rider Samantha Collett, but was soon snookered three back on the inner.
Collett desperately sought an out in the home straight before she found clear running.
Foote said Travelling Light would go south for the One Thousand Guineas provided she progressed well following the group 3 win.
"As long as everything goes well from here, we'll be there for sure," he said after the race.
"It's a bit of a relief. This was her biggest test.
"I've always had a high opinion of her and thought she was going to be hard to beat."
Runner-up Bavella and third placegetter Jennifer Eccles boosted their One Thousand Guineas stocks with sound performances.
