She might be the most difficult horse Roger James has ever cared for but the New Zealand trainer is in awe of Full Of Spirit's talent and constitution.The filly has been a surprise packet for James and her owners, earning her way into Saturday's Australian Oaks with a comprehensive victory in the traditional lead-up, the Adrian Knox Stakes.Sydney wasn't in the original plans for Full Of Spirit who had been earmarked for a race in the South Island.But after a win at Awapuni last month, the decisi

She might be the most difficult horse Roger James has ever cared for but the New Zealand trainer is in awe of Full Of Spirit's talent and constitution.

The filly has been a surprise packet for James and her owners, earning her way into Saturday's Australian Oaks with a comprehensive victory in the traditional lead-up, the Adrian Knox Stakes.

Sydney wasn't in the original plans for Full Of Spirit who had been earmarked for a race in the South Island.

But after a win at Awapuni last month, the decision was made to cross the Tasman instead of Cook Strait.

After last Saturday's Adrian Knox (2000m), she was put into the Oaks as a late entry and installed as second favourite behind Streama.

"She is one tough filly," James said.

"I've brought over a hundred horses to Australia over the years and I can't remember bringing a horse who has lobbed in here and done like she has.

"She didn't get here until 11.30 at night.

"The next day she licked out her bin and the next day you'd have sworn somebody had been in before we got to work and wiped it out with a cloth because there was not one oat left.

"I've got three others here and they haven't done as well the whole time they've been here."

Her appetite is matched by her ability but James admits it has been a struggle to harness that and translate it to the track.

"They tell me they had tremendous problems breaking her in," he said.

"We've channelled her now but you can't make a mistake with her.

"She's coming round to our way but you've got to meet her halfway.

"Her form should probably read a lot better than it does. She gets mentioned in a lot of judicial reports and not always because it's her fault.

"She has been a bit unlucky on occasion."

New Zealand's number one jockey James McDonald will be aboard on Saturday with a field of eight declared for the Classic.

Wednesday's market had Streama at $1.60 with Full Of Spirit at $4.60.

The 2400 metres is the unknown for all runners including the favourite and James would also like to see an end to Sydney's rain which had forced the track into the heavy range on Wednesday.

"Dead or slow would be a lot better for her," he said.

"She is unknown at the distance but the way she finished off her race in the Adrian Knox Stakes suggests it should be no problem."

Until Full Of Spirit's recent emergence as a Classic contender, the James-trained Silent Achiever had captured all the headlines.

The winner of the New Zealand Derby, Silent Achiever ran third in the Rosehill Guineas but failed to show her usual dash at the end of the Australian Derby.

"She's back home in the paddock and we'll look at what's around for her in the spring," James said.

"I don't know if we'll set her for races like the Caulfield Cup.

"She might have a lighter spring and then concentrate on the following autumn."