Trainers Evan and JJ Rayner believe they have their stable star Start Wondering is on track to defend his Sistema Railway (1200m) crown on New Year's Day, starting today at Otaki.
The son of Eighth Wonder rose to prominence when he downed the best sprinters in this year's Ellerslie featureand went on to make his mark in three other group ones, including victory in the group one NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Those wins, plus his seconds in the group one J.R. & N. Berkett Telegraph (1200m) and Haunui Farm Group One WFA Classic (1600m), earned him the New Zealand Champion Sprinter award and the Rayners are confident he can measure up along the same path this campaign.
"He had a good break after Brisbane and he's come back looking great," Evan Rayner said. "He's had exhibition gallops between races at Otaki and Waverley, but he hasn't been to the trials. He could have gone to the Waverley or Foxton trials, but we don't want him too tuned up. He has done enough."
Star Wondering will resume in today's Fasttrack Insurance Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki under the clear topweight of 61kg.
"He's getting ready for the Railway so he'll improve with this run," Rayner said. "He'll be sitting behind the pace and I think he'll be right in it. He'll try himself. He's that type of horse."
Start Wondering will be ridden as usual by Johnathan Parkes and is likely to have one further build-up run for the Railway.
"We'll find a race for him somewhere just to top him off for the Railway," Rayner said. "He'll go along the same path as last season. There's not much else for him."
Meanwhile, Lisa Latta will be much the wiser about Platinum Volos after the three-year-old's black type debut at Otaki.
The Awapuni trainer is stepping into unknown territory with the son of Dalghar in the group three Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m).
Platinum Volos has made a bright start to his career with two wins and two placings from his six appearances, including a last-start second over 1400m at Riccarton behind the highly-regarded filly Savvy Coup.
"He handled the better track down there, but it's hard to know at this stage whether he will handle the mile at Otaki. It's a question mark," Latta said. "It's a bit difficult to know if he was coming to the end of his run over the 1400m at Christchurch or not. It was his first trip away and he has done well since he came home."
Masa Tanaka will guide Platinum Volos' fortunes from the outside gate in the Levin Racing Club's feature.
"The wide draw is a bit of a concern as well, we'll just have to hope for a little bit of luck from out there," she said.
Platinum Volos' performance over the mile at Otaki will determine his summer programme, with the grey gelding eligible for the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27.
"We're going to learn a lot more about the horse tomorrow and whether we look to take him to Auckland," Latta said.
