Ears Back, who will attempt to continue her winning streak in Wingatui where a huge payday awaits the rising southern star, has found success through a patient approach.
The four-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry is unbeaten in her last three appearances and again promises to be hard to roll in Saturday's $100,000 Southern Mile Final (1600m).
John Blackadder, a trainer from Rangiora, shares ownership of both Ears Back and the in-form Eptimum, who will compete in the Positive Signs + Print Handicap (1200 metres).
Jasmine Fawcett, who has paired each horse to three victories in the races leading up to their Wingatui appearances, will be riding them.
“Ears Back has been terrific and she couldn't have done much more and I couldn't be happier with her,” Blackadder said.
“She took a long time to get to the races and we finally got here and it's proved worthwhile. She just needed time to mature.”
Ears Back made her debut in the spring of last year, broke her maiden four races later at Ashburton in December, and now she's one of the favourites on Saturday after two more victory in Southern Mile Series heats.
“It's quite exciting and a good mile field with exceptional money,” Blackadder said.
Safely through the weekend, Ears Back is likely to have a crack at black type in the Group 3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on March 25.
“She'll probably have one more start after Saturday and then go our for a break, we're looking at the Valachi Downs for her,” Blackadder said.
Blackadder also trained Ears Back's half-sister Smoke House Bay to win three races for Taranaki breeders Paul and Robyn O'Leary.
“Smoke House Bay came to me from Te Akau and the change of environment suited her so they sent Ears Back down here as a two-year-old and kept 25 percent,” he said.
Ears Back is from the immediate family of the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) winner Pretty Punk and the pedigree also features the Group 1 English Derby (2400m) winner Pour Moi, who sired the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) winner Sacred Elixir during his time at Windsor Park Stud.
“She is bred to go further and she shouldn't have any problem getting a mile and a-half (2400m) or 3200m at some stage,” Blackadder said.
Relocating to Rangiora has also agreed with Eptimum, who claimed the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley as a three-year-old before an unsuccessful stint in Hong Kong.
Now an eight-year-old, the son of Snitzel has posted six successes from Blackadder's stable and is also chasing four wins on the bounce on Saturday.
“He hasn't done anything wrong and has just needed some luck and good tracks, he's going super,” he said.
“He didn't like the Hong Kong environment and gets paddock trained and he's a happy horse, that's the difference.”
Eptimum made his way to Blackadder's stable from Dave Duley's Lansdowne Park operation at Ohaupo.
“Dave got me a horse called I Am A Rock (six wins) and he rung me and said I've got another one, who's been sitting in the paddock for 18 months,” Blackadder said.
“I asked a good friend of mine, Henry Gillies, to see if he could pre-train him and see if he still wants to be a racehorse.
“He then sent him to me and Henry has 50 per cent and it couldn't have gone any better.”
Another bold showing on Saturday will earn Eptimum a return trip to Trentham for the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m), in which he finished sixth last season.
“If he goes well, we'll probably go up for the Lightning on March 18, he seems a much better horse this year,” Blackadder said.