Roydon Bergerson has an eye on an autumn pot of gold with his emerging three-year-old Wingman.
The Awapuni trainer is targetting the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi in March with the Gerry Harvey-bred and raced son of Swiss Ace.
Wingman has made a strong start to his career with a debut victory and a placing on rain-affected ground before he relished a faster track at Trentham on Saturday to double his winning tally.
“He’s got a really bright future and will only get better,” Bergerson said.
“Hopefully, Awapuni might select him for the slot race. I’m really happy with this horse and I think he’s only going to get better.
“It was a very good effort to come from two or three lengths last off a slow pace, he got to the line really well.”
“We’ll probably look to give him a bit of a break now and get him ready for March.”
Wingman was tardily away and settled at the tail-end of the field under rider Luke Currie before he came with an irresistible finish to comfortably reel in his age group rivals at the end of 1400 metres.
“It was a very good performance by horse and rider, I said to let him settle and get to the outside and he found the line really well,” Bergerson said.
For Currie, it was a first victory on New Zealand soil for the multiple Group 1-winning jockey.
“I left him along early and he quickened up really nicely, he was tough,” he said.
Wingman is one of seven winners produced by the More Than Ready mare Cortado and under the second dam is the two-time Group 1-winning sprinter Atomic Force.
It is also the family of the Listed Newmarket Handicap winner Red Stryker, also runner-up at Group 3 level in the Darey Plate and Mr Tiz Trophy.
Cortado produced a filly last season by Redwood before a return visit to the Westbury Stud resident.