Karaka horseman Lance Noble is setting his sights on Group One targets for three of his stable members, while another will be aimed at a newly created $1 million summer event.
Aquacade, Habana, and Luberon are the top contenders for top-flight events this season, with Polygon having the four-year-old event on the Karaka Million program in January as her long-term goal.
Noble has the quartet, owned by Cambridge Stud, back in training.
He plans to send the well-performed mare Aquacade to next week's trials at Ruakaka to continue her preparation.
Regarding Aquacade, Noble stated, “She's definitely a good stayer, but we may keep her on the fresh side and head toward the Zabeel Classic (Group 1, 2000m).
“What I'd like to do is go to the Counties Cup (Group 3, 2100m) and a month later the Zabeel, there is no Group One staying race anymore, so we'll keep her on the fresher side.”
Aquacade had a successful four-year-old season, winning the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and the Stayers' Championship Final (2400m) and finishing fourth in the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m).
Noble also expressed long-term ambitions for her to compete in Sydney during the autumn season.
Habana, who won four times last season and finished runner-up in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) on a heavy track, is another promising prospect.
Noble is considering the Captain Cook Stakes (Group 1, 1600m) for him, especially if conditions are dry.
Polygon, a talented mare, enjoyed success last season, winning the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m).
Noble's plan for her includes aiming for the new race, the Karaka Million (1600m) for four-year-olds, as her primary target, followed by a series of fillies and mares' races in the autumn.
Luberon, an Embellish filly, started her career with a debut victory at Ruakaka but then suffered a hind quarter injury after finishing third in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe.
Noble revealed that her target is the 1000 Guineas (Group 1, 1600m) after a long recovery period.