Sally McKay is ahead of the game with her stakes winner Showemup, who will open her four-year-old season at Gore on Friday.

“I’ve been thrilled with her, the best I’ve had her at this stage of a preparation and while she’s not very big, she is stronger,” the Ascot Park trainer said.

Showemup will resume in the Abernethy Contracting Handicap (1200m) and will be ridden by apprentice Tina Comignaghi.

“She’s drawn one and she should jump out and sit behind the leader,” McKay said. “She’s had one jump-out at Winton last week and jogged in so she’s very well.”

Showemup enjoyed a lucrative three-year-old campaign and the daughter of Showcasing placed at Listed level in the Gore Guineas (1335m) and in the Dunedin Guineas (1500m) before she won the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m).

She was subsequently spelled after finishing third in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) in April.

“Hopefully we can add some Group form this time around,” McKay said.

“She’ll have this run and then we’ll see if she needs another one before the Valachi Downs Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton. I think she’s up to that and then there’s the White Robe Lodge as well.

“She’s a very genuine horse and versatile, she can go on any ground.”