Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

NOEL ENNEVOR has bided his time with EMPEROR HALL's return to the track, earning a drop in class from Grade One to open allowance in tomorrow's ninth event at 1820 metres.

Among EMPEROR HALL's rivals tomorrow are 2000 Guineas winner UNCLE DONNY, who is facing older horses for the first time, and REASONABLE PRESS, fresh off getting within a length and three quarter of BLAST THEM AWAY at 1500 metres on April 21.

However, REASONABLE PRESS, worse UNCLE DONNY, are both stepping up in class against EMPEROR HALL, who matched strides with the best horses in the land in his last three races at the back end of 2011.

The United States-bred four-year-old moved from average to grade-one campaigner in the last three months of 2011 after Ennevor fitted the tongue tie for an overnight allowance in October.

The bay colt blazed a fast 1:55.2 for 1820 metres in the tongue tie, slamming PRINCE ROHAN and VONALMIGHTY by six and a half lengths on October 17 to start his trek to grade one.

Proving just how improved EMPEROR HALL was with the tongue tie, Ennevor pitted him against lightning-fast SARAGOSSA at 1000 metres straight on November 2, a race in which he finished a length third behind splits of 22.3, 33.3 and 58.2

Realising he had a machine on his hand, Ennevor sent EMPEROR HALL into the Imported Mile 10 days later and it was a farce. The colt turned the grade one event into a procession, beating MIKENIFICENT by 10 lengths.

On December 10, the rejuvenated American raced into the 1400-metre Gold Cup and chased home the pair of SAINT CECELIA and St Leger winner COMMANDING CHIEF, finishing five lengths a fast 1:25.3.

Rounding off his year, EMPEROR HALL held his form in the 12-furlong Harry Jackson Memorial on Boxing Day. He kept pace with Superstakes winner MARK MY WORD for 10 furlongs but the big horse kicked on to win by 11 lengths.

EMPEROR HALL carries top weight 57.0 kilos tomorrow, giving away 16lb to REASONABLE PRESS but sits unbelievably close to UNCLE DONNY, who will have 55.0

Whereas UNCLE DONNY will no doubt get the distance, he has taken a tremendous jump in class in his first start against older horses. It should be noted that ALL CORRECT, who he beat by two lengths in the 2000 Guineas, had lost his prep race in the class below, beaten by ERASMO in overnight allowance.

The jump in class, and sitting only two kilos off tried, tested and proven grade-one runner EMPEROR HALL, is asking a lot of UNCLE DONNY.

REASONABLE PRESS has been working well and is pretty light at 50.0 kilos. However, he was run off his legs by CLASSIC BEAU at a mile when carrying 51.0 kilos on March 10.

Shane Ellis will be putting EMPEROR HALL to the lead from the word go. Ennevor sharpened the American last Wednesday in 1:14.2 for six furlongs. Ellis was aboard the colt when he had clocked 1:55.2 for the distance last October so he knows exactly what to do tomorrow - pace rivals to death.