Fight For Glory is on target to resume last season's battle with The Orange Agent.
The pair dominated the Group I races for 3-year-old fillies last season and look likely to be major players in the Group I Queen of Hearts and Group III Breeders Stakes for mares at Alexandra Park next month.
Mark Purdon, who co-trains Fight For Glory with Natalie Rasmussen, confirmed the two races will be the main aim after an impressive showing at the North Canterbury workouts where she ran second to Venus Serena by a neck on Wednesday.
A decision on when the winner of more than $580,000 will travel to Auckland and her likely leadup races will come on Thursday, Purdon said after giving the Art Major mare's second hitout his tick of approval.
Fight For Glory was named Australian 3-year-old pacing filly of the year but was unanimously dumped out of that accolade on this side of the Tasman by The Orange Agent.
Fight For Glory was a magnet for bad barrier draws in New Zealand last season which did not help her cause.
In her first trial back this season at Ashburton on November 17 she failed to finish off for third behind Here We Go Again.
It was a much improved effort at Rangiora as Venus Serena clocked a 2:02.3 mile rate for the 2000m with the last quarter mile in 28.2.
Fight For Glory is far from screwed down and is still carrying plenty of condition.
The All Stars stable of Purdon and Rasmussen have suffered a blow with 3-year-old gelding Cash N Flow suffering a fracture in his near hind pastern that Purdon said would likely end his season.
Geoff Dunn was much happier with Venus Serena from behind the mobile arm after her standing start manners put an end to her failed New Zealand Trotting Cup campaign.
"She looked a lot more enthusiastic today," Dunn said.
A decision on exactly what races the multiple Group I winner has left in her career will come on Thursday when connections hope to gain confirmation that she is in foal after being served by Art Major.
Rocker Band flashed home late for third but trainer Mark Jones said she would stay in the South Island for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, David Butt who trains with wife Catherine, has confirmed Habibti will likely stay across the Tasman for three to four months.
The Butts hold a share in the classy mare, who has bounced back from serious injury last season to run third in the Group I Dominion Handicap. She is now in the care of Victorian trainer Adam Kelly and will be driven by Gavin Lang.
Mat Kermeen
Reproduced with permission of Stuff NZ – Check site here