A bold first-up effort has Kenny Rae keen on Absolut Excelencia’s chances on Saturday.

The Ruakaka horseman produced the versatile eight-year-old to finish third earlier this month at Riccarton behind Riding Shotgun following an enforced break.

“I said to (jockey) Terry Moseley that the horse had trialled up well and he’d go a nice race,” said Rae, who trains with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williams.

Absolut Excelencia has improved with the benefit of that outingahead of another tilt at the PGG Wrightson Kurow Cup (1400m).

“I stayed out of the Timaru Cup with him, I thought that field was a bit too strong, and he’s done well and he’s definitely got a good chance,” Rae said.

Runner-up in the Kurow Cup last year, Absolut Excelencia has won 10 races up to 2000m, but Rae will be restricting the gelding in distance since his return from a bleeding attack.

“He’s going well and we keep him reasonably fresh and stick to the shorter trips with him,” Rae said.

A Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) winner at three, Absolut Excelencia will be ridden by Lee Callaway, who will replace an injured Terry Moseley.

Meanwhile, stable star Prom Queen is enjoying a month off following her run for fourth in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

“She’s as bright as a button and has done us proud,” Rae said. “We’ll have her back for the autumn, I wouldn’t mind taking her to Australia then.”