She is by Danehill's Home On The Grange and she and the winner of the 2011 Taree Gold Cup, Island Dane, are by the same Taree-based sire.

Firstly, the five-year-old mare trained by Wayne Wilkes has to get a start in the $60,000 Cup over 2000m on Sunday August 18 and that would be cemented if she wins the Prelude as the mare would be exempt from ballot.

Danesiri has certainly been "on fire" since Wilkes took over her training five starts back,her last four runs resulting in two wins and a long head second last start over 1850m in a Benchmark 70 Handicap race (the same benchmark this time) at Newcastle on July 27.

"She was a little unlucky at Newcastle in that she was shuffled back at a vital stage and was in front another two strides after the post," Wilkes said.

Danesiri likes to get back in her races,this possibly being her only drawback,but she has a scintillating sprint when given clear running.

"The smaller field should help and enable her to be closer in the run.

"She is holding her condition and I think she deserves a chance to win the Taree Cup."

He said her main rival is probably Coffs Harbour five-year-old gelding Upearly, the recent Wingham Cup winner, which is trained by Paul Smith and has had three wins and been no further back than fourth in its past five runs.

Danesiri beat Upearly by 4.2 lengths over 1700m at Grafton two starts back and meets the gelding slightly worse off at the weights.

Upearly has a liking for the Bushland Drive track as in four starts he has won two and been runner-up twice.

Smith described Upearly's last win in unsuitable heavy ground at Ballina as resounding and but for the gelding pulling up a little tired he would have taken the galloper to Brisbane for a race last week.

"He rolls forward and is again ready to show his best," Smith said.

Since taking over the training of the former Sydney galloper,Smith has had Upearly racing very consistently and wants the gelding to go through its classes.

That is why he is likely not to nominate for the Taree Cup but concentrate on races more suitable in Brisbane either next start or after the gelding has a spell.

The query horse is seven-year-old Wyong gelding Jack's Song, trained by Bob Holloway and to be ridden by in-form Sydney jockey Blake Spriggs,no doubt the pair looking towards the cup as their mission.

The versatile galloper has won from 1300m to 2100m and has recorded eight wins,one of them two starts back being over 1900m in the heavy at Canterbury.

It has been given a 27-day freshen up for this shorter race and rates highly.

On the imporove is Port six-year-old mare Analie's Daughter, trained by Jenny Graham, which is having its third run back and has won at the distance and at this track.

Another Wyong mare,five-year-old Power Shot, trained by Jeff Englebrecht, likes the distance but will be looking for a firmish track to show its best after three wins from its past eight starts.

It is the type of race where an upset can happen but on exposed form Danesiri and Upearly should fight it out.