That is the big question about the return of New Zealand Cup favourite Ultimate Machete in tonight's group 2 Canterbury Classic free-for-all at Addington.
Last season's 4yr-old male pacer of the year has botched the standing start in two of his three trials leading into the 2600m feature.
Those hitouts have given Ultimate Machete the fitness he needs but whether he will be able to step away is a complete mystery.
"Ultimate Machete has done plenty, though, at this stage of his prep. If he did things right and finished in the first four I would be happy," co-trainer Mark Purdon said on his stable's website.
"He can go better than that and I am still confident he will settle down with standing starts, though that is the question with him here."
Like Ultimate Machete, Eamon Maguire will step out for the first time this season for Purdon and training partner Natalie Rasmussen.
The former Otago pacer has had only one quiet trial leading into the race and is not expected to be at peak fitness tonight.
Fellow All Stars pacer Dream About Me comes into the $50,000 feature in contrasting circumstances. She toughed out a gritty Hannon Memorial win at Oamaru last month in the third start this season which means she has a fitness edge on both her stablemates.
"Dream About Me is the most seasoned of ours in the big race but Eamon Maguire is around 85% in fitness and if he did it right he won't be out of it," Purdon said.
Ultimate Machete was a $3 win favourite when markets opened earlier this week, ahead of Eamon Maguire and Dream About Me who were at $4.40.
Hannon Memorial trifecta-makers A G's White Socks and Captain Dolmio head the chances outside of the Purdon-Rasmussen stable.
A G's White Socks went down by only a nose to Dream About Me. His good standing-start manners are likely to put him in a winning position tonight.
Tiring runners made Captain Dolmio's path to the line tricky in the Hannon and he excelled in running third. His good manners are also in his favour.
Captain Dolmio is one of the five starters Woodend Beach trainer Robert Dunn has in the race, backing up from the Hannon.
It is clearly the best open-class field of the season, despite the withdrawal of North Islander Star Galleria. The leading New Zealand Cup hope was accepted for the race but was scratched after travelling from Auckland.
Open-class trotters will contest the group 3 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington tonight. It features the clash of first-up winners Harriet Of Mot, Marcoola and Great Things Happen.
