Zabeel Classic target

Trojan Warrior will step out at Awapuni today ahead of a return to group one competition.

The 5- year- old has quickly bounced back from illness and he will strip in good order for the Manawatu Cup Prelude.

Trojan Warrior was out of sorts last time when he was unplaced in the Eagle Technology Stakes at Ellerslie.

“We ran some blood tests on him and the vet said the horse had a virus so we gave him a few days off and he’s back to normal now,” trainer Anne Herbert said.

Runner- up in the Easter Stakes and the Awapuni Gold Cup last preparation, Trojan Warrior will carry 60kg at Awapuni and that impost has determined his future path.

“I was expecting that and we’ll use the race as a stepping stone to the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day,” Herbert said.

“If he’s going to be lumping that sort of weight we may as well run at weight- for- age.”

A last- start stutter aside, Trojan Warrior has come up well this campaign as evidenced by his defeat two runs back at Tauranga of the subsequent Captain Cook Stakes winner Aide Memoire.

“I thought he may have needed that run, but everything panned out perfectly for him,” Herbert said.

She i s also looking forward to tomorrow’s meeting at Ellerslie with 3- year- old Georgethefifth, who takes on his own age group in the Life BMW Salver.

“I really like him, he’s a work in progress and there’s a lot of improvement to come,” Herbert said.

“He’s got the ability and he will stay. He holds a nomination for the Derby so Sunday will give us a line on him.”