"She's taken a while to mature and she's pretty fussy about what types of tracks she races on and needs things to go her way, but she's earned a go at the Winter Cup," Rae said.
Central Districts jockey Lisa Allpress will be aboard on Saturday.
Rae also has grand 8-year-old campaigner Don't Say Clang entered.
From 47 starts, he has won 10 and placed 16 times for earnings of $227,000.
His latest win came at Oamaru on Sunday.
"The track was just perfect for him. He loves it with the cut just out of the track," said Rae.
She has a huge soft spot for the horse, saying she has pampered him beyond belief over the years.
"He has had one easy life I can tell you. He's a Mummy's boy. He hasn't gone without a thing."
Rae feels that despite his advancing years, there's a lot more racing in Don't Say Clang yet.
"He hasn't been overly raced. As I said, he has been looked after."
Jillian Morris retains the ride on Saturday.
Kevin Myers' Titch is the $6 fixed odds favourite for the Winter Cup, followed by Matost and Ishiabeel and another rising star, Flying Alibi, on $8.
Frank Ritchie withdrew the well-supported Don Dixit after he was found to be lame after Saturday's Te Rapa failure.
Before that he had also raced poorly at New Plymouth, on a track that Ritchie thought would have been ideal for him.
The Cambridge horseman said that New Zealand Cup winner Showcause would have a 1600m blowout at Hastings next month before heading for the Melbourne Spring Carnival, after stopping off in in Sydney, where the Metropolitan will be a main target.
Winter Cup market: $6: Titch, $8: Flying Alibi, Ishiabeel, Matost; $10: Don't Say Clang, Royal Flight; $12: Spare A Fortune, $14: Ourforeignminister, Bruce Almighty; $16: Hurricane Mickey, Sircross.
- www.racingtips.co.nz
