Gallant Guru mare Willow nosed out her well-performed stablemate, Gallant Boy, to register the fastest time of yesterday's 1000m heats.
The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained 5yr-old was a winner at the same meeting last year and her half-head victory showed she is in good shape to repeat that effort.
Willow, who has not raced since May, has returned a stronger prospect from her spell and could be in for a good season, rider Jacob Lowry said.
Gallant Boy, runner-up to Something's Burning at the meeting last year, will also resume at Wingatui on Tuesday.
Though beaten by more than a length by the Anderton pair, Passito, was not pushed out to the line and pleased trainer-rider Steven Prince with her effort. She, too, will be at Wingatui on Tuesday.
Flashy front-running galloper Majic El was at his best when winning the first of yesterday's two open 1000m heats.
Majic El will also make his season's debut on Tuesday at Wingatui for trainer Claire Anderton.
Time away from the track may have helped former perennial placegetter Itemize find the Wingatui winning post first.
The eight-time placed maidener, who has been unsighted since June, held a head advantage over former North Island galloper Park Lane in their maiden 1000m heat.
Punters may need to be patient if they are to follow two of yesterday's most impressive heat winners.
Rather than lining up at the races immediately, 3yr-old Shocking filly Scandalous will be given more jumpout experience after her impressive heat win yesterday, Prince said.
Trainer Amber Hoffman has not planned a race for Step Inside Love, who also won a maiden heat at yesterday's jumpouts.
The horse injured a hind suspensory ligament that was later operated on in December and the horse's soundness would be monitored before any races were targeted, Hoffman said.
The plans for the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained Crispin are also uncertain.
The Raise The Flag mare, who placed in one of two starts last season, won her 800m heat and looks the stronger for having spelled..
The 4yr-old could possibly race at Wingatui on Tuesday, but that would depend on her recovery from yesterday's run, Shane Anderton said.
The stable also rolled out two up and coming 3yr-olds - in Raise A Saint and a Pins filly from Miss Aurora - to win 600m jumpouts for inexperienced horses.
Wingatui jumpout results
Weather;fine, track;dead.
Heat 1, inexperienced, 600m: Raise A Saint, C Barnes 1, Simpatica 2, Dante Fire 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Margins: hd, nk. Time: 39.23sec. Three started.
Heat 2, inexperienced, 600m: Pins-Miss Aurora C Campbell 1, Shamoline Warrior-Ilinca 2, Zed-Al Shamekha 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Margins: 4L, nk. Time: 44.63sec. Three started.
Heat 3, maiden 800m: Scandalous, J Lowry 1, Darci Brahma-Bellonet 2, Mossy Creek 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Margins: 3L, 1L. Time: 47.26sec. Four started.
Heat 4, maiden 800m: Crispin, C Campbell 1, Plowshare 2, Never You Mind 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Margins: Nk, 3L. Time: 48.02sec. Four started.
Heat 5, maiden 1000m: Step Inside Love, S Muniandy 1, Riding High 2, Librettist-My Little One 3. Trainer: A Hoffman. Margins: 2L, 7L. Time not recorded. Four started.
Heat 6, maiden 1000m: Itemize, S Muniandy 1, Park Lane 2, Turbulence 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Margins: hd, ns. Time: 1.03.5. Four started.
Heat 7, open 1000m: Majic El, C Anderton 1, Taieri Gem 2, Perceptive 3. Trainer: C Anderton. Margins: hd, 2L. Time: 1.03.6. Four started.
Heat 8, open 1000m: Willow, J Lowry 1, Gallant Boy 2, Passito 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Margins: ½hd,1L. Time: 1.00.4. Four started.
