Nigel Tiley will restrict his weekend participation to the feature races.
The Pukekohe trainer will chase Gr.3 Merial Ancare Metric Mile spoils with Spoke To Carlo at Awapuni, while talented three-year-old The Justice League resumes in the Listed Tavistock Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.
English-bred former Hong Kong galloper Spoke To Carlo has been one of the finds of winter racing and he rates as the horse to beat in the Merial Mile after clinical wins at Otaki and New Plymouth.
"He's in really well at the weights and it's a Group Three race so it made sense to have a go," said Tiley, who was thrilled to see the Halling seven-year-old gelding sneak into the race with just 53.5kg.
"As long as the track is loose, he'll be hard to beat. But if it's puggy and becomes a real slog, then some of those hardened older warriors might come into their own."
Spoke To Carlo has had five starts in New Zealand for three wins and two second placings.
He followed his 7 1/4-length Otaki romp with a smart three-length win in the Interprovincial at New Plymouth last start and Tiley reported he had trained on well since.
"He's really gone on with it in his work. He's was literally pulling me out of the saddle in his work this morning."
Safely through the Merial Mile, Tiley will back up Spoke To Carlo in the Listed Westbury Stud Karaka Classic (1600m) at Avondale seven days later, though should he produce another commanding win this weekend and wet weather produces a heavy track at Hastings, there's a remote chance he could be supplemented to the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate field the same day.
Tiley is not so confident of a winning run from The Justice League at Ruakaka, though he is mindful of getting the I Am Invincible gelding started on his pathway towards the Gr.1 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.
"A wet track wouldn't suit him but taking him up north and getting a run into him is the name of the game this weekend," Tiley said.
"I'm happy with him but this isn't an ideal race for him. We've got behind the eight-ball a bit with the way the weather has been but if we don't send him around up there we're going to get even further behind with his spring preparation.
"We haven't got any firm plans after this. We'll just see how he comes through it but we won't be taking him to Hastings for the Hawke's Bay Guineas.
"I'm convinced he's looking for a mile and we'll just look after him on good tracks after this weekend. He's nominated for the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and that's his main target."
Meanwhile, Tiley will be keeping an eye on Melbourne racing, where his stakes-placed former galloper Ragnaar makes his Australian debut in the Listed Pin & Win Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday for new trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman.
"I've kept in touch with Lee by text and he had a jumpout a couple of weeks ago and Lee was very happy with him," Tiley said
