Linda Laing has rewritten her 2011 playbook in order to bring about Gr.1 Zabeel Classic success for Veyron at Ellerslie later this month.
The Cambridge trainer used the 2011 equivalent of Saturday's $25,000 Lodge Real Estate 1600 at Te Rapa to fine tune Veyron for that year's Zabeel Classic.
While Veyron had the misfortune to run into Shez Sinsational at her peak for the Boxing Day feature, the Thorn Park gelding stuck to the script when he carried 60.5kg to success under Leith Innes in the Te Rapa open handicap.
Veyron finished fifth in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600) at Trentham in 2012 prior to his Zabeel Classic win that year under regular rider Rogan Norvall, but didn't tackle the Ellerslie feature last year.
Norvall goes to the bench on Saturday as Laing sought weight relief from Matamata apprentice Jack Wong, whose 2kg claim brings the five-time Group One winner's weight back to 61kg for the Te Rapa feature.
Laing said Norvall would be back for the Zabeel Classic.
"The 61kg will be hard enough as it, but he will have a good gallop, hopefully get some prize money and that will top him off for the Zabeel Classic.
"He's just about back to his best. I spent seven years trying to get him to put on weight and now he's nine, it's hard to get the weight off him, but we're getting there now. I needed him to drop 80kg after his break. The first 60 was easy, it's the last 20 which has been hard work."
Veyron showed he was approaching peak form with an improved last-start second to Sakhee's Soldier in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie last month.
Laing had considered going straight into the Zabeel Classic with Veyron without another run, but when wet weather put paid to a planned exhibition gallop at Ellerslie last Sunday, she had no option but to look to the Te Rapa race.
"The day out will do him the world of good and a rain-affected track won't worry him either. It won't be easy for him, but it never is anyway," Laing said.
