And the win would be special on more than one count.
Hoffman and her standardbred training partner, Jonny Cox, went their separate ways last week, Cox opting to move north to Christchurch to work for Ken Barron.
Race meetings in four locations - Timaru gallops yesterday, Addington tonight, Ascot Park tomorrow and Wingatui on Monday - involve a fair bit of planning, but it would be all worth it if New Years Jay was able to come away with the spoils in tonight's group 1 New Zealand Breeders' Stakes.
New Years Jay was co-bred, and is part-owned, by Brian Anderton, whom Hoffman admires for helping her through her early years in the training game.
''It would be awesome and it would be so cool doing it for BJ as well,'' she said.
The draw of barrier 6 in the 2600m mobile pace might make New Years Jay's task slightly harder, although Hoffman expects Cox, who retains the drives on the stable's major runners, to ease her back from the start.
''I would have liked to have seen her drawn in a little bit more, but it's not too bad. Jonny will just have to go back and hope they go hard in front and she can just sprint home.
''Hopefully, Venus Serena will go to the front and they'll go hard and hopefully someone brings her into the race at the right time.''
The 7yr-old burnt up the track at Gore last week, running her last 800m in 55sec in a trial against Pulp Fiction and others.
But her age belies her inexperience with just 11 starts under the belt and that does temper Hoffman's optimism.
''There are a few good ones in there and the other thing is she's still learning - she doesn't really know what it's all about yet,'' Hoffman said.
''She may make a mistake, she may not. You never know with her. She's still a bit of a baby, really.''
The road to the top for New Years Jay has been quite swift, and has even surprised Hoffman a little.
''I always knew she was a good horse even as a 3yr-old when we had her earlier on. but I didn't think she'd come back as a 7yr-old and be this good still.''
The tone for the group 1 might be set by Jaccka Justy earlier in the night when he takes on a smart trotting field over 2600m after winning a trial at Gore last week.
''He's jumping out of his skin which I'm a little bit worried about as he might be too fresh,'' she said.
''But it's a race he could win tomorrow night if he trots as good as he did the other day. As he showed in the Dominion if he has one run at them, he has a lethal sprint so hopefully that pans out.''
Hoffman was unsure how the split would work out, but her attitude has changed from one of concern to a positive outlook on the future.
''I was a bit worried at the start but now I'm really looking forward to it so I hope it all goes well,'' Hoffman said.
