New Plymouth galloper Elvis resumes at Awapuni on Friday, in what will be just his second start in a year.
The four-year-old had his promising career halted by bone chips in his two front knees.
The knee issues were diagnosed after Elvis was unplaced in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on January 1, 2015.
The Road To Rock gelding started favourite when he resumed on his home track in September, but raced below expectations and was given another break.“I thought he was nearly right, but he was still feeling his knees,” Bolton said.
However, he has been encouraged by the horse’s recent progress.“He had a jumpout last week and went well and his work has been telling me he might be back on track,” Bolton said.
“He won the jump-out, but that doesn’t put them under the same pressure as a race.“This race will be very important in telling me where he might head for the rest of his career. I hope he comes back because he’s a lovely horse and a really good galloper.
“If he goes nicely, we can look at something for him at Trentham a fortnight later. But if he doesn’t let down and hit the line, it will tell me the knees are still troubling him.“I’ve had some good advice on how to manage knees from [Awapuni trainer] Mike Breslin and if the horse races like his old self, I will have to shout Mike a beer.”
Elvis has won three of his eight starts and has twice won fresh-up. He will be ridden on Friday by Johnathan Parkes, who has had three wins and a second from five mounts on the horse.
