But Kevin Hughes thinks Speedy Jax could be a contender for the 3200m feature in November.
The Spartacus 4yr old looked like a stayer in the making with his 2 length win in the second of two rating 65 2200m races at Oamaru yesterday, as he extended his margin over the last 200m.
Raced by Dame Wendy Pye and her husband, Don, Speedy Jax joined the Riccarton stables operated by Hughes and his wife Pam and looked like a winner in waiting after a third at Ashburton on July 3.
But yesterday's win was another step up on a good3 track, which is why Hughes is thinking four months ahead.
''He could go a bit further,'' Hughes said.
''I'm not being silly but he could be there at cup time.''
''He's a good stayer and he's improved over the last month .
I'm very pleased with him.''
Hughes said the Pyes had been great stable clients over the years, and he was happy to reward their faith in the gelding.
''I'm pleased for them because they believed in him and he looks like he might come up for them.
''He'll just work his way through his grades - you want to be around the 85 [rating] when the cup comes around for a nice light weight.''
The good version of Absolut Excelencia was on display in the $25,000 Oamaru Cup as he bolted away to win by 1 lengths for Ruakaka trainers Kenny and Lisa Rae.
Kenny Rae was in attendance at Oamaru for the third time, and every time he has made the trip down himself - rather than sending down horses with other trainers - he has left a winner.
But Rae said he was not expecting the win, despite a big run for seventh from the 5yr old at Ashburton on July 3.
''To be honest, no, because he's such a lazy horse,'' he said.
''I was going to claim on the horse, but he won't go for the younger riders. Ryan's been riding him in work which does help because he gets to know the horse - all you've got to do is get him to go.''
Absolut Excelencia holds a nomination for the group 3 Winter Cup on August 1, although that is dependent on the weather.
''He's still in the Winter Cup and if we get a dry track in the cup, he'll be competitive although I don't dare say he can win it.
''When he's right, he's right and when he comes right, he usually stays in form.''
Michael Pitman was also happy to see a firm track at Oamaru, which suited Jazzman down to the ground in the $25,000 Waitaki River Trophy.
''That horse is doing a good job - the owners came to me a while back and said they wanted to pull the pin,'' Pitman said.
''I think since then that's his fourth or fifth win for us. He's underrated. Very few horses win eight races in 22 starts.
''I don't want to take him to Riccarton - it's too long a straight - but you have to go there.''
