Horses don't normally jump from rating 85 victories to Group One weight-for-age contests - but then Packing Tycoon isn't your normal rating 85 winner.

Packing Tycoon, who won at Te Rapa at his first New Zealand start on February 1, makes the big leap in class when he contests the Group One Otaki WFA Classic (1600m).

It seems like a big test, but he knows what it's like to take on top horses, finishing third when known as Alexander Pope in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot in 2011.

The two horses that beat him were Nathaniel, later a winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Britain's best weight-for-age 2400m race - and subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.

The horse was sold to Hong Kong trainer Tony Cruz and renamed Packing Tycoon but didn't acclimatise and was sent to Cruz's nephew Trevor Cruz, who began training in Cambridge this season.

"His run over 1400m was excellent last time when winning at Te Rapa, and although it is a big step up in class I think he is a quality horse that can progress stepping up to a mile," Trevor Cruz told NZ Racing Desk.

"I think ultimately he will be best suited when racing over 2000 metres, with some give in the ground."

Cruz, who has two winners and three placegetters from his first five runners, has booked Jason Jago to ride the $10 chance after his Te Rapa jockey Opie Bosson was suspended.

Class mare Xanadu was the $3.80 favourite with the TAB in an open-looking race, with last year's winner Nashville and this year's Waikato Sprint winner Viadana next in the market at $5.50.