Southern stars Emily Margaret, Prince Oz and Kiwi Ida will clash with northern raider Sword Of Osman.
Emily Margaret won over the same distance last year as a 3yr-old for Riccarton trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes.
She proved 1600m was her pet distance during an outstanding autumn campaign, but dropping back to 1000m while in a fresh state should suit her.
"One thousand metres doesn't worry me at all. Hopefully she repeats [her win of] last year," Kevin Hughes said.
The 4yr-old had been feeling so well that she needed to get out and have a race to burn off her extra energy.
"She couldn't be any better to start off. We are looking forward to it," Hughes said.
"Running 1000m in a straight line will be the best thing for her.
"She is bright and raring to go - she is one of those horses you have to do something with her because she gets a bit above herself."
The Riccarton track was rated a soft8 yesterday. MetService has forecast more rain for Christchurch today, easing to showers tomorrow.
If the track retains its soft rating there will be no complaints from the Hughes stable.
"She can run on anything and it is not as hard on her joints as running on a good track."
Stable apprentice Sanu Toolooa will claim 3kg and bring the weight Emily Margaret has to carry down to 51kg.
None of her main rivals will have the benefit of a claim. Prince Oz will carry 58kg, Kiwi Ida 57.5kg and Sword Of Osman 55.5kg.
Sword Of Osman, trained by Jamie Richards for the Te Akau operation, has trialled well in two preparatory runs on slow and heavy tracks before heading south.
The 4yr-old has not started since running second to King Louis on Karaka Millions raceday at Ellerslie in January.
Kiwi Ida has the benefit of having had one trial in which
she easily accounted for race rival Morweka in a 850m dash on a dead-rated Rangiora track late last month.
Bookmakers opened Sword Of Osman and Kiwi Ida the $3.70 equal favourites. Both drifted afterwards, Sword Of Osman moving to $3.90 and Kiwi Ida going out to $4.20.
Morweka was the $5 third-favourite ahead of Prince Oz, who was at $6.
Bookmakers yesterday had Emily Margaret at $14 to win the 1000m dash.
