If you thought The Drummer was an impressive type in his last campaign, wait till you see the five-year-old at Awapuni tomorrow.
Otaki trainer Karen Zimmerman is confident her smart miler is a much stronger horse this time in.
He'll need to be from a wide gate and against an
ITM Rural Handicap line-up that includes three of the better chances in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham on January 29.
But Zimmerman has had the race as the prime target for The Drummer from the day he came back from a spell in September.
"He was a bit flattened after the weight-for-age race at Te Rapa," said Zimmerman.
"We gave him one more at Hastings but he just wasn't right."
Zimmerman gave The Drummer a tune-up for his raceday return at the Foxton trials on December 21.
He only had two opponents that day but couldn't have been more impressive in winning over 1000m.
"The Thorndon has been his target all along and Awapuni should be all he needs to top him off," said Zimmerman.
A wide draw hasn't helped The Drummer's chances of a winning return tomorrow.
But Zimmerman says The Drummer has enough gate speed to overcome the gate and invariably goes well fresh.
Three of his six career wins have been in that state.
Stablemate Just Call Me Dan is also on trial for Trentham tomorrow.
The Danske four-year-old was an impressive winner on debut on the same course on Boxing Day.
"He'll either run in the special conditions maiden or the PQ 1400m on the last day," said Zimmerman.
"I'm not sure which way to go yet - we'll just see how he comes through Saturday first.
"But he's a real up-and-comer who should have no trouble going through the grades."
Fixed odds for the ITM Rural: $3.50, Zvezda; $6, Pomp And Glory, Silky Red Boxer, The Drummer; $8.50, Delbrae; $15, Lordship, Doyle; $20, Sovereign; $22, Khan; $25, Dunmore Boy, Bellaroof; $30, Zoe Spice; $50, Anson Bay, Green Jeans.
