A fresh-up run at Ashburton tomorrow could decide when Swiss Alps will face his next ascent.
A fantastic debut winner at Oamaru in June, Swiss Alps faces a significant class rise when he has a crack at the $50,000 Ray Coupland Stakes for 3yr-olds over 1400m tomorrow.
The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained son of Swiss Ace prepared for tomorrow's task by running second behind stablemate Avow at the Wingatui jumpouts on Tuesday.
''He did everything we wanted him to do - we just wanted him to get out and have a hit-out and get ready for Saturday,'' Shane Anderton said.
''He's had two jumpouts before that. We were just trying to get the right race to get into. He's nominated for the [New Zealand Two Thousand] Guineas, so after Saturday, we'll be a lot wiser about what's going to happen.''
All but one of tomorrow's field are nominated for either the One Thousand Guineas or the Two Thousand Guineas, with the Te Akau-trained fillies Flaming and Darci's Dream among those who are nominated for both.
There is no doubt this is a big step up for Swiss Alps and Anderton said the run would determine whether to carry on with him towards Riccarton.
''It's a pretty smart-looking field there, really, for a good stake, but at least we'll get a line on him then see where he is and whether we carry on or chuck him out [in the spelling paddock] and wait until after Christmas,'' he said.
''Ideally, he's going to get over 2000m or so. Probably the way he runs, he's more of a Derby horse than a Guineas horse. We can't wait to get him up to a mile [1600m] or 2000m but you've got to start somewhere and you've got to get the fitness into them.''
Swiss Alps was checked at the start of his Oamaru run, and took some time to pick up speed despite the efforts of jockey Courtney Barnes, who will ride again tomorrow from barrier 8.
''Hopefully, he can get out of the gates and get into the field a bit. Ideally, we don't want to be tailed off like at Oamaru - it was a pretty good effort to get up - but you're not going to beat these horses from back there.''
Swiss Alps was not out in the paddock for long over the winter, but Anderton said the chestnut gelding was not lacking in size before his break.
''He's a pretty big horse anyway. Later on, the older he gets, the stronger he'll get.''
The Andertons also saddle up Norah and Tommy Tucker in the rating 75 1400m, the last race on the card.
Norah resumed after a break with a tidy third at Timaru on September 22, while Tommy Tucker is fresh-up after last starting at Invercargill in late March.
''Norah went a good race at Timaru the other day. They probably went the slowest time of the day, but ran the quickest last 600m. Once they came back a bit in the last bit, she kept coming.
''Tommy Tucker's pretty forward. He's done a lot of work and normally he goes all right fresh, so time will tell.''
