And the picture is looking good for at least some representation from trainers in the Otago region.
Al Raza is sitting pretty at seventh on the 4yr-old diamond leaderboard - decided on stakes earnings in all races other than yearling sales series races - after winning four races and placing three other times this season.
Co-trainer Geoff Knight, who won the same category with wife Jude when Pembrook's Delight downed Bettor Cover Lover at Cambridge in 2012, hopes Al Raza will hold on to her spot in the top 12.
''We are pretty confident she will make the top 12. There are a couple of the better ones who have leapfrogged her just recently,'' Knight said.
''She's probably got enough money without earning too much more so, hopefully, she will make it. That was the aim all year for the syndicate.''
''There's a race for her at Gore on the 27th [of April] then we'll pick one race for her at Forbury in May then maybe a trial.''
Smokin Bird, who won a trial at Oamaru on Saturday, is another leading chance for an Otago-trained runner to make the cut in a diamond category.
The Kevin Court-trained filly is sitting 14th on the leaderboard for the 3yr-old diamond, less than $1000 off 12th place.
It is thin reading on the pacing colts and geldings front with very few chances trained in the Waitaki River-Balclutha-Queenstown triangle.
Titan Banner is the best ranked Otago-trained 3yr-old, sitting well down the order at 35th, $20,000 off 12th spot.
The trotting gait is popular with Otago trainers, and there is usually a representative or two from Otago when the big money is up at the Harness Jewels every year.
No Otago-trained juvenile trotters feature on the 2yr-old list, although a win - or a placing or two - could propel any trotter into the mix.
Starlight Starbright, trained by Ricky Allen at Katiki, is 11th with $12,556 in the bank this season in the 3yr-old trotting ranks and the Phil Williamson-trained Springbank Eden is at 20th.
Williamson said Brads Kenny (22nd) would not be at the Jewels.
Williamson also has Father Christmas sitting at 15th on the 4yr-old ruby leaderboard and Zhenya further back in 20th but the dark horse - excuse the pun - could be Heard The Whisper who is in 37th, but only two good wins off making the cut.
''Father Christmas and Zhenya are our two main chances [of getting to the Jewels],'' Williamson said.
''They'll just race on. It won't be the end of the world if they don't get there, but if they do, we'll line them up with it being on our doorstep.''
