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The John Bary-trained Hugo The Boss picked up his sixth career win and second in succession at Trentham on Saturday in the New World Churton Park (1000m).
Bary said he has taken a patient approach with the five-year-old gelding and that is starting to pay dividends now.
“He’s taken time, he’s only a five-year-old, but it seems like he has been around forever. He’s maturing, he’s in a happy place,” Bary said.
“I was pretty keen to get him up to the Concorde, but it just wasn’t going to work. But it all worked out, he showed his real will to win in the last 100m.”
Bary said while the son of Stratum is in form he will continue with his preparation which will likely culminate with a tilt at the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham in March.
“While he’s racing well and the tracks are good he’ll possibly step back up to an open 1200m at Awapuni on the 8th (of February), it seems the race that suits,” he said.
“The Lightning on Oaks Day, back in Wellington where he is racing well, seems the logical choice, but we may have got to get one more win or a placing before to get our points up to make sure we get a start in that.”