A freshened The Meista will be in demand for the Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton tomorrow.
The Meista was placed in his first two starts in a fresh campaign in the spring. He performed well below his best in two further starts and was spelled late in December.
A trial win at Ashburton on March 25 indicated he was ready to resume.
"I have changed his feed," Peter Williams, his co-trainer, said.
The Meista won over the Great Easter Handicap distance, 1400m, at Riccarton 12 months ago before success in the Canterbury Gold Cup.
Buddy Lammas, the Levin jockey, has been engaged for The Meista. Lammas partnered Wall Street to win the Coupland's Mile at Riccarton in November.
Stupendous could prove a formidable rival for The Meista. The Kevin Myers-trained gelding won the listed Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki in November following wins over 1200m and 1400m at the New Zealand Cup meeting. He ran third to Vonusti and Tootsie in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in January.
Chaparella should manage the step up to 1600m in the listed race for 3yr-old fillies. The daughter of High Chaparral won a listed 1400m race for fillies at Wingatui at her last start and the Gore Guineas (1355m) two starts earlier.
The Beekeeper, second in the Wingatui race and winner of the Southland Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, is among the rivals for Chaparella. She will be ridden by Natasha Collett, with her brother Jason riding at Te Aroha.
The leading rider James McDonald is at Riccarton, where his mounts include Croix Du Sud and Primo Quest for the stable of leading trainer Mark Walker.
