Matamata trainer Cody Cole is following a similar blueprint to last year with Navigator, who will head into the group 1 TAB Telegraph at Trentham today fresh-up.
The 6-year-old son of El Roca was also in a fresh state when placing in the race last year, "and that’s the way to have him", Cole said.
"He performed well there last year."
The Navigator has not raced since he was unplaced in his sole start over spring in the group 1 Proisir Plate at Ellerslie in September, but Cole is happy with the way he has come up this time in.
"He had a jumpout at Te Rapa and he won that comfortably on the bridle, so we know he is back to himself.
"He had a few niggles in the spring and we have put those behind us and hopefully the best version of him turns up... and if he does, he shouldn’t be too far off them."
Cole is also excited about the prospects of 2-year-old filly Silhouette, who will start in the listed Wellesley Stakes.
The daughter of Armory won on debut over 900m at Trentham in October, and she was set to return to the Upper Hutt track last month to contest the group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes before a bout of colic thwarted those plans.
She has made a pleasing recovery and Cole is hopeful she can secure black-type this weekend.
"She was meant to go down for the Wakefield, but she had a bit of colic leading into it and disappointedly we didn’t get there, but she seems right now," he said.
"They don’t give away stakes races, but she looks to be a nice chance on paper and if she performs up to her best, and puts the last couple of weeks behind us, I think she can go pretty close to it."
Stablemate Bow Hill will be given her first tilt at stakes level when she contests the listed Marton Cup, and she heads into the race in good form, having placed in her last two outings.
"It is a bit of a throw at the stumps with her but she is probably in the best form that we have had her in," Cole said.
"She has run a couple of really bold races in her last two starts and she has done it the hard way coming from back. I think she deserves a chance and a bit of the first three money would be great."
Latrelle just missed out on securing black-type when fourth in the group 2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Trentham last month. Cole said she had progressed in the right direction since and could be a major player in the group 3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy today.
"She was unlucky not to get a bit of black-type there last time at Trentham in the group 2," Cole said.
"She was three wide with no cover in weight-for-age, and it took its toll in the last 50m and she just came to the end of it.
"She will be better for that run, she has bounced through it well and she typically goes well at Trentham."
There is plenty of pressure on Cole’s shoulders as his promising filly Cheerio gets set to contest the group 2 Levin Classic carrying the well-known silks of owner-breeder John Messara, of Arrowfield Stud.
The daughter of Maurice placed on debut over 1200m at Tauranga in October before winning at Ruakaka last month and will take on a strong field when making her stakes debut this weekend.
"There is a little bit pressure going around in those silks," Cole said.
"There are some well proven horses there. It is a pretty tough field.
"The manner in which she won last start and what she has shown us at home has been pleasing, and we have always had a decent opinion of her." — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
By Joshua Smith
