Not Usual Talent will attempt to end his three-year-old career unbeaten when he tackles Saturday's Maara Grange Rehabilitation and Fencing Premier 1600 at Te Rapa.
The winner of both of his starts, the Stephen Marsh-trained Zacinto gelding faces his sternest test to date in the set weights and penalties age-group contest but stable confidence is high.
"He's a very smart horse, still very immature but he's done nothing wrong to date. His two wins have been very strong," Marsh said.
"He'll have this one and then go out. He’s big and weak, but he could be a Cups horse later on."
Under regular rider Danielle Johnson, Not Usual Talent has come from back in running for his wins at Te Aroha on debut last month and in three-year-old company at Rotorua earlier this month.
Marsh said tactics were unlikely to change from the outside barrier draw of 10 on Saturday.
"He'll probably go back from the wide draw, which can make it hard at Te Rapa but he'll go huge," Marsh said.
"His work has been first-class and he's holding together well. It's a good field and it will be a good test for him, but he'll be hitting the line as well as anything."
Marsh will also shoot for feature success at Te Rapa with Group One winner Thee Auld Floozie attempting to go one better than her last-start second placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha when she tackles the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m).
The Mastercraftsman six-year-old has finished fifth and fourth in the Travis in the past two years and Marsh would love to see her win in what could be her final race.
"She's going great, but we just don't want the rain to come. She's that much better with good ground," he said.
"She's extremely well and she'll be hard to beat with the right track and the right run."
A winner of 11 of her 37 starts, including last year's Gr.1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham, Thee Auld Floozie opened the TAB's $4.20 final field favourite for the Travis, ahead of Cote D'Or at $4.40, Our Abbadean at $5 and Nicoletta at $5.50.
"We'll meet with the owners after this race and decide what we do with her. There's been a bit of interest in buying her so we'll assess how she goes and discuss options afterwards," Marsh said.
