The best years could be yet to come for Dalwhinnie despite a powerful win at Wingatui on Monday.
The 4yr-old lived up to her billing as a mare with potential with her maiden win in December, but had no luck in two runs over the summer before bouncing back to winning form at the Beaumont meeting on Monday.
''Maybe it was the addition of blinkers, but the easing of the track helped - it was a beautiful track today with the cut right out of it,'' her trainer, Terry Kennedy, said.
''They ran 1.11 in a 1200m race and they were bouncing off the track. That's what she likes.''
Dalwhinnie's two wins have come over 1400m and 1600m but expect to see her over longer distances in the future - most likely next season.
''She'll get a mile and a-quarter [2000m] plus further. Her full sister [Spring Cheer] won the New Zealand Cup [3200m] , so the further she goes, the better she's going to be.
''I don't think I'll give her too many more [runs this season]. We'll just kick on with her for a month or so then she can go out into the paddock.''
Meanwhile, The Diamond One arrived in Hamilton on Monday before her tilt at the group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha on April 4.
Co-trainer Claire Anderton flew to Hamilton yesterday to join the last-start Cuddle Stakes winner, who is stabled at Graeme and Debbie Rogerson's Tuhikaramea stables on the western fringes of Hamilton.
Anderton will stay with the mare until the 1600m feature, and said a solid workout on Saturday would top her off.
''She's pretty fit now and clean-winded.''
Her half-brother, The King, was a notable returnee when winning a 800m maiden jumpout at Wingatui yesterday.
The 3yr-old had one start in August before requiring a wind operation.
After the death of his former trainer, Steven Anderton, last month, he was transferred to Brian and Shane Anderton's for this preparation.
The King, who won his heat by two lengths over Velvet Rose, is likely to be among a swag of White Robe Lodge runners from yesterday's jumpouts taking their place in maiden races at Wingatui on April 9.
