Zabene has not raced since he won the listed Metropolitan Handicap (2500m) at Riccarton on November 12. He was a late scratching from the New Zealand Cup a week later when the track became affected by rain.
He also won the New Zealand Cup Trial (1800m) at Riccarton in October.
The leading jockey Matt Cameron has ridden Zabene in both those wins. Jillian Morris has the mount tomorrow. She rides Zabene in work at Rangiora and has been given credit for coping with his hard pulling tendencies.
Zabene also won the 2010 Dunedin Cup.
Trainer Michael Pitman, who has won the Waikouaiti Cup five times, has four of the eight acceptors - Borninthestates, Peyow Peyow, Fellini and Eleanor Coup.
Fellini won the Kurow Cup yesterday with Lisa Allpress the rider. Pitman said last night that Fellini would be reserved for the Clare Memorial Cup at Omakau on Tuesday.
Borninthestates, the top weight with 59kg, won the race in 2008 under 56.5kg. Peyow Peyow won the Waikouaiti Cup in 2009 and last January. He was back to winning form at his last start in the Tapanui Cup at Gore.
Woodyeva won the Queenstown Cup on a good track at Cromwell two starts back. A dead track may have been against him in his subsequent start at Awapuni.
Pitman also had wins with Chase The Sun and Miss Maximuss. He is viewing a start for Miss Maximuss in the $20,000 Miss Scenicland Stakes (1645m) at Hokitika on Wednesday week.
Pitman said the win of Chase The Sun was most rewarding.
"He broke down when he won at Ashburton in March at his previous start and he has two screws in a foreleg," Pitman said " We swum him for two months before we put a saddle on him this preparation." Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers won with Prestigiosa, Angelology and Excuseable.
Prestigiosa won a 1400m maiden by nine lengths and Angelology won by six lengths.
Excuseable and winner Sourire were ridden by Ashlee Mundy, who recently returned from eight months in Queensland where she rode 12 winners.. A race meeting will not proceed at Reefton on Wednesday due to the state of the track.
An attempt is under way to transfer the Reefton Jockey Club meeting to Greymouth.
