After a couple of encouraging runs on the flat, premier jumper Lord Spencer (NZ) (Zed) will be back to doing what he does best on Saturday.
The son of Zed will line up in the Jones Trucking Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa with Lemmy Douglas to continue his association with the seven-year-old.
They will return to the scene of their greatest triumph, having memorably combined to lift last season’s Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) title.
Lord Spencer was then sent for a deserved break and resumed last month when third over 1600m at Waverley and the Wanganui gelding made the short return trip there to again run third over 2100m.
Most recently, he tailed the field home in a Rating 65 event over 2200m at Trentham, but trainer JJ Rayner wasn’t downcast.
“He’s coming up really well and that last run was just typical of him,” she said.
“He didn’t want to go and then picked up again late, as if he had another round to go so, I was happy enough.
“It was another blow out for him and his runs before that were quite handy.”
Lord Spencer has come through the outing without incident, although Rayner isn’t necessarily expecting fireworks in his return to racing over fences.
“He looks good and is doing well, it will be another run under his belt on Saturday,” she said.
“There are a few hard ones in there, I don’t know if he can beat the Fannin horse (Fourty Eight) (NZ) (Ekraar) home first-up and English Gambler will go to the front and go like the clappers while the tracks are good.
“As long as he’s running home okay and pulls up well, then I’ll be very happy.”
All going to plan, Lord Spencer will head back to Te Rapa next month.
“He’ll run in the Waikato Hurdles (3200m), we’ll see how things go but we’ll probably look at Christchurch again and the Northern,” Rayner said.
Lord Spencer finished runner-up in the Sydenham Hurdles (3200m) last winter before a gallant fourth in the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) ahead of his win in the Great Northern.
However, his main targets have yet to be locked in stone with the bigger fences also an option.
“We might go steeplechasing somewhere along the line. I think he will be a great ‘chaser, he settles well, relaxes and switches off,” Rayner said.
“We’ll see whether it might be the National Hurdles or Steeples, we’ll make a decision on that later on.”
Rayner said multiple flat winner Tutin Cans (NZ) (Alamosa) was a possible travelling mate for Lord Spencer.
“He’ll start in a maiden hurdle on June 14 (at Te Rapa) and we’ll just see how he progresses.
“He goes nicely on the flat and jumps well so he could be one to go.”