Former northerner Diamond Girl announced her arrival on the South Island scene with a remarkable front-running performance in Saturday’s $50,000 Shoe Clinic Handicap (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Consistent galloper Humbucker will step out on his home track at Gore on Wednesday in the first step towards a start in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 15.
Trainer Jo-Ann Gordon is prepared to give Sutherland the benefit of the doubt for his last start defeat and hoping home track advantage and testing underfoot conditions on Sunday can see the mercurial character back to his best.