The winner of three of her five starts, Anabandana won the group one Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie at her last start. She has also won the group three Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie and the group two Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m).
Her lead-up form is superior to that of Il Quello Veloce, the most recent filly to win the Manawatu feature.
Opie Bosson, who has ridden Anabandana in her last two wins, has retained the mount.
Antonio Lombardo, who is under a warning for his racing manners, could appreciate a return to a left-handed track. He has won the group three Waikato Classic at New Plymouth and the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham on left-handed tracks.
He ran in sharply in the closing stages of the Diamond Stakes. His rider, Sam Spratt, could offer no explanation for his behaviour but he did lose his right front plate.
Spratt is at Awapuni tomorrow, rather than in Sydney to continue her association with King Mufhasa. The connections of King Mufhasa decided to try a different rider, with Michael Rodd being engaged for the Ryder Stakes. Spratt has gained the mount on Savanah Rush in the Manawatu Classic. The filly ran sixth in the New Zealand Oaks following wins over 2100m at Ellerslie and 2200m at Rotorua.
Bosson is on the filly So Divine in the Manawatu Classic. She ran third to Starcheeka and Magic Me at Trentham at her last start. Starcheeka is a rival tomorrow. The filly Valpolicella won the Classic in 2008.
Bosson has the mount on Red Ruler in the Awapuni Gold Cup in the absence of Mark Du Plessis. Red Ruler, winner of the weight-for-age International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month, has 58kg in a handicap tomorrow.
Michael Coleman, who won the Awapuni Cup on The Phantom in 1989, has the mount on Zara Dancer.
