A featherweight preparation may yet bring a heavyweight autumn result for El Pistola.

Trainers Nathan Hanley and Kylie Whiting have been forced to lighten the load on their mare, but next month’s Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup remains the target despite a lack of lead-up racing.

Saturday’s Listed Marks Ewen & Associates Kaimai Stakes will be El Pistola’s first appearance since she finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Counties Cup in mid-November.

“She injured herself when she put a leg through a fence and we had to put her out just when we were making plans for the Waikato Cup and the City of Auckland Cup,” Hanley said.

“We’re very happy with her now and she had a trial last week so we don’t think it’s going to be too much of an issue.

“We’re sticking with our plan for the Auckland Cup.”

An indication of their confidence in the mare’s condition is that they would be happy for the daughter of El Hermano to go straight into the Auckland Cup after her weekend outing.

“We’ll know more after Saturday and whether we need to run her in the Nathans in between times,” Hanley said.

Ironically, El Pistola won the Nathans Memorial last season to force her way into the Cup, in which she finished eighth and less than five lengths off the boil-over winner El Soldado.

Mark Hills has ridden the mare in her last three starts, but a prior commitment to Fanatic has resulted in Trudy Thornton taking the reins at Matamata