Nordea Wee Thing defied her name and was on her best behaviour with a handy gallop at the Wingatui jumpouts yesterday.
The Amber Hoffman-trained filly led home a four-horse field over 1000m in a solid time of 1.01.22, less than 0.5sec slower than the open heat later on the jumpouts card.
Hoffman has been patient with the daughter of Any Suggestion, handing her a diet of three jumpouts before deciding on a race start.
"She's a nice wee horse but she's still pretty green,'' Hoffman said.
"She'll possibly start at Omakau [on February 26] over 1100m, I think, and go from there but I think she'll be better over more ground.''
Avow returned from a short spell to win the open 1000m by a slim margin over the Hoffman-trained pair of Brandy and Spitting Image.
Avow has not raced since finishing eighth in the Tapanui Cup on December 20, and co-trainer Shane Anderton said the mare appreciated a softer track than she would have faced if she had lined up in January.
The daughter of No Excuse Needed would be aimed at autumn meetings, he said.
Hoffman said her pair would probably join Nordea Wee Thing on a trip to Central Otago.
"I'll look for races for them at Omakau and Cromwell,'' she said.
The Darci Brahma mare has had 11 starts for Hoffman since transferring from Karen Fursdon's Matamata stables, but tailed off in the spring.
Hoffman said the 5yr-old has osteoarthritis, which has been treated with a drug from Australia.
"It's quite expensive but it's supposed to last 12 months, so she seems happy.
"She's not running off the track, so that's a good thing.''
Spitting Image has been a work in progress for Hoffman, so she was pleased to see the 6yr-old finish within half a length of Avow.
"God knows what he'll do when he goes back to the races but he went good.''
Hoffman said her star pacer, New Years Jay, is having a week off at White Robe Lodge after a smart run for second at Ashburton on Saturday.
"Then we'll start looking for some mares' races for her. She went super - a big improvement on the week before.''
The four horses in the second 1000m maiden heat were eased up in the straight.
Results.-Weather, fine; track, good.1000m maiden: Nordea Wee Thing T Direen 1, Isla 2, Rajiv 3. Four started. Time: 1.01.22. Nk, 2L. Time: 1.01.22. Trainer, A Hoffman.1000m maiden: Wheres The Forman J Chong 1, 4h Gallant Guru-Leeward Prevails 2, 3f Minstrel Court-Bailey's Star 3. Four started. Time: 1.10.64. Lg nk, 1L. Trainer: M Hamilton.1000m open: Avow J Lowry 1, Brandy 2, Spitting Image 3. Four started. Time: 1.00.78. Ns, lg nk. Trainers: B & S Anderton.
