mistake there remains fuel in the tank of Brett Forgesson.

And if any of the young `Turks' grant an opening come Wednesday morning the New Zealand native will gratefully step through.

Forgesson, who captured the Marathon Derby title back in 1994, admitted during an interview that favourite status rightly belonged to defending champion Kavin Smith -- with Jay Donawa odds on for second -- and played down his own chances.

However, he was not ready to fully concede, no doubt recognising the various factors which can rise to usurp the intentions of any would be contender.

"Obviously if Kavin returns and runs he'll be the big favourite. I think he won by five minutes going away last year and he could be in even better shape this year, so if he comes ready to run he'll be very difficult to beat,'' said Forgesson, who with wife Anna Eatherley completes the most formidable husband/wife team on the Island.

"Jay is obviously at a very good level of fitness as well and he's had enough May 24ths under his belt that he should now know how to run it. So I would think he'd be looking for a good performance as well.

"Then there's probably a battle for the rest with quite a few vying for the minor placings.'' It was during the '94 event that Forgesson and Kevin Tucker engaged in one of the more memorable battles of recent times, with first Forgesson then Tucker taking the lead in a cat and mouse struggle that ended with the former pulling away at City Hall and breaking the tape in one hour, 15 minutes, nine seconds.

The years since then have been ruled by the younger, speedier legs of Smith and this year promises more of the same, with Forgesson coming back from a knee injury that forced him to the sidelines during the latter part of 1999 and early this year.

"I don't have any great expectations this year,'' continued Forgesson. "My training has been going steadily the last six to eight weeks, but the injury set me back a little bit...I'll just see how it goes.'' Unlike those that merely come out for this one event, Forgesson is a `lifer'.

He runs because he loves it, even if it means exacting a physical toll.

However, things have changed a great deal since 1994, with two young children now occupying much of his time and serving to mellow the competitive fires.

"Yeah. I've got a few distractions, but it hasn't slowed my wife down,'' said Forgesson, chuckling.

"I still enjoy the sport. I still train, but I don't train anywhere near the miles or the intensity that I used to train, so it's difficult to compete at the same level, you only get out of it what you put into it.

"It's still fun and when I'm out there competing I always wish I'd put more effort in the training. I train as hard as I can, but it's a commitment thing.'' Forgesson will be out there doing more than soaking up all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the Derby. Winning remains on the mind, although he admits he's an outside shot.