Winning yearling-sales races behind fillies with the moniker Midfrew has worked for Oamaru driver Matthew Williamson before.
And a series of factors mean the 25-year-old reinsman is a live hope in tonight's $150,000 PGG Wrightson yearling sales 3yr-old final with Luisanabelle Midfrew.
Williamson teamed up with close relation Libertybelle Midfrew to win the 2yr-old sales series pace at Alexandra Park in 2013, and luck in the barrier draws gives him a chance of repeating a winning combination he established with Nigel McGrath in that 2013 feature.
The daughter of American Ideal will start from the 1950m in barrier 2, one spot inside Killer Queen, and in a much better space than likely favourite Talkerup, who has drawn 1 on the second line.
"It was probably pretty paramount that she got a good draw so it gives her a good chance,'' Williamson said.
"Talkerup would probably be favourite for the race, so it's probably best for us that she's got a good draw. And also Killer Queen having good gate speed but drawn outside us, not inside us, helps us as well.''
The staggering aspect of today's listed feature is the complete absence of any fillies from the all-conquering All Stars Stables, with the likes of Golden Goddess and Dream About Me ineligible for the race.
Luisanabelle Midfrew has finished no further back than third in her four starts this campaign, including a second to Talkerup on January 15, but it was only the last-start third to Classie Brigade that really impressed Williamson.
"She's probably been disappointing this time in, then her last run has been her best and she went pretty good, so I'm hoping she's building back to her best form and she'll be hard to beat.
"Hopefully she can get out good enough and we can decide what we want to do, so hopefully she's an each-way chance.''
Talkerup's trainer, Cran Dalgety, has to rely on the powers of driver Dexter Dunn to extricate his filly from an awful spot over the short distance.
"I think we're in a power of trouble, unfortunately,'' he said.
"Killer Queen will come into 3 [with scratchings], and we're back on the rail. We might just be fighting for the crumbs, unfortunately.
"She's in great shape and she's healthy and fit but we've been thrown a few traffic issues now. But if anyone can weave their way through, it'll be [Dunn].''
Williamson is bullish about the chances of Monty Python in the group 3 trotting free-for-all, as the 6yr-old is really finding his feet at the top level against the likes of stablemate Springbank Sam.
"Being a free-for-all, he's off the same mark as the good ones, but in saying that, he gave Sam a hurry-up the last two times he's been in free-for-all conditions against him. I'm thinking he's stepped up to that open grade now. I don't think he'll be far away.''
Father Christmas is 10m in front of Bordeaux and Harriet Of Mot in the Super Series trot, and Williamson will be looking to make sure the race is run at a genuine tempo.
"He's done really well and has the 10m start on his main rivals, so as long as he begins well, he'll be hard to beat.''
