Awapuni trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin will have two contenders carrying the silks of stable stalwart Graham Stewart in the Harrisons Solar Power 1600 at Trentham on Saturday, including recent Australian import The Precursor.
Stewart purchased the St Jean four-year-old off Inglis Digital last November for A$20,000 following five starts for leading trainer Ciaron Maher.
"He has had five starts for two seconds and a win," Shaun Fannin said. "He goes back to a very good staying and jumping family, so the older he gets and the further he goes, the better he should be.
"He is a lovely, big horse and he trialled up really well at Waipukurau (winning his 1200m heat last month).
"Unfortunately, he has drawn quite wide (18), but he is pretty forward, so as long as he gets some luck in the running and handles the track okay, I am sure he will run well."
Stable and ownership-mate Linara hasn't fared well with his draw either, having drawn barrier 21.
"Linara ran well the other day over 1200m (third), he just needs 1400m to a mile," Fannin said. "Unfortunately, he has drawn very wide, but we have got a very good rider in Bruno Queiroz riding him.
"I think he will suit the mile and as long as he gets a bit of luck in the running, I am sure he will run really well."
Fannin said Stewart is a great supporter of the stable and he is hoping he can get a result for him this weekend.
"Graham has been very good to us, we have about eight for him at the moment," he said.
A day later at Hawera, Fannin will jump in the saddle himself to pilot stable runners Fourty Eight and Sweet Ada in the Pioneer (2100m) and Holdem Contracting (2100m) respectively.
"Fourty Eight was pretty unlucky first-up (when runner-up over 2200m), he only just got beaten there at Woodville the other day," Fannin said. "He has drawn one, so I am sure he will roll forward and he should prove very hard to beat.
"All going well, he will back-up at Waikato the following Saturday in the Open Hurdle up there.
"Sweet Ada has had a few trials, she is pretty forward. She might want it a bit wetter than what it is going to be on Sunday. She is fresh-up, but she is fit enough and hopefully she can run well."
