Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has elected to pit his handy filly Impendabelle against the boys at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.
A last start runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Impendabelle will bypass her own sex in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) in favour of dropping back to the more favourable 1400m of the Group 2 Auckland Guineas.
Pike has been pleased with the way she has returned from her southern venture and said she has enjoyed some downtime ahead of her resumption next Tuesday.
“Coming back in trip we decided to go against the boys in the Guineas rather than the Eight Carat. We have got plenty of depth in our three-year-olds this year, which is good to see,” Pike told TAB NZ.
“She has come back from Christchurch in great order. She had 10 days in the paddock when she got home.
“She had an exhibition gallop with Not Guilty at Tauranga last Friday and I was really pleased with her work.”
The daughter of Impending will also have the addition of blinkers to help sharpen her for her fresh-up run.
“I have decided to put the blinkers on coming back in trip for the Auckland Guineas. She tends to get a bit wayward when she hits the front and Kozzi (Asano, jockey) has copped a couple of suspensions because of that,” Pike said.
“Her work with the blinkers on Friday was exceptional.”
Depending on the outcome of Tuesday's race, Pike is weighing up between the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 13 or the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27 with his filly.
“We will see how she pulls up after the Auckland Guineas to see whether she runs in the Levin Classic or alternatively head straight to the Karaka Million Mile. There is a chance she could do both,” he said.
“I think those three races will be enough for her this preparation and if she holds her form then we might pick out one or two races in Sydney heading into the autumn.”