The rescheduled Wanganui Guineas raceday, which was rained out on Saturday and run yesterday, helped make New Zealand Cup week a slightly clearer picture.
Smart 3yr-old Waldorf enhanced his 2000 Guineas chances by justifying his red-hot favouritism for the Wanganui Guineas.
His win at $1.50 tote odds gave the Andrew Campbell-trained colt back-to-back listed wins after his Ryder Stakes win in July.
Campbell is aiming for a feature race hat-trick before tackling the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.
''He'll head to the Hawke's Bay Guineas next and then Christchurch is the plan, as long as everything continues to go so well,'' he said.
''I don't have any worries about him running a mile at Riccarton. His half-brother Timy Tyler won the Winter Cup there.''
Waldorf is a $14 chance with TAB bookmakers for the Riccarton feature behind favourites Aim Smart and Felton Road.
Central Districts filly Dijon Bleu put herself in the frame for the 1000 Guineas with her listed win at Wanganui yesterday.
Trainer Lisa Latta has the Riccarton feature in mind for the progressive filly after what was her first win in 3yr-old fillies' company.
How the daughter of Burgundy handles a further step up in distance will dictate whether she makes it to New Zealand Cup week, Latta said.
''There's a lot of options for her and the key will be whether she can get 1400m and further and then if we head south early,'' she said.
What could help Dijon Bleu's upcoming step up in distance was her ability to settle quickly under rider Jonathan Riddell.
''She got fired up early, but then she came back and really put paid to them in the straight,'' Latta said.
''We decided to ride her a bit cold because there was a bit of speed in the race.''
Dijon Bleu is rated a $26 chance behind the $8 favourite Belle Du Nord in early markets for the 1000 Guineas.
The pair clashed in Belle Du Nord's latest start for second at Taupo last month, when Dijon Bleu ran into third.
The trip from Awapuni to Taupo was a factor in Dijon Bleu running an even better race yesterday.
''The trip to Taupo has really made her,'' Latta said.
''She has really gone forward since then and I couldn't be happier.''
- Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
