Former northern galloper Notabadpony is well and truly living up to his name according to trainer John Blackadder.

The Rangiora horseman has had the gelding for his last three starts, all on Riccarton’s synthetic track, with the now four-year-old posting two placings before scoring his maiden victory over a mile earlier this month.

“It was a very good ride from Lisa (Allpress) last start. We were intending to go back with him, but she saw there was no pace on, so she took him to the front,” Blackadder said.

“He is actually well named.

“I have had him for about three or four months. Shaun (Phelan, part-owner and former trainer) just wanted a change of environment for him and it’s very tough up there (Waikato).”

The son of Mulaazem will attempt to improve his winning tally on Friday when he heads back to the turf to tackle the One Smart Coffee (1600m) at Oamaru.

“It is a Soft7 now and he will handle that no problem at all. He should be very competitive in that race,” Blackadder said.

“If he keeps improving, we will look at some of the feature meetings, but he will tell us what he wants to do.”

Blackadder will be represented by a further five horses on Friday, including the pairing of Clyde Barrow and Amiinit in the Oamaru Scaffolding Maiden (1200m).

“There are only five in it, but both of them will need more ground,” he said.

“They both ran home really well in their last starts, I was quite impressed with them.

“We are looking up to 1600m for them really, but it will be a good experience race for them.”

Meanwhile, stablemate Ears Back will line-up in the McKeown Group Oamaru (1400m), while Kahma Suitsya will contest the Mackenzie Supply Services (1600m), and Silver Cannon will resume in the Crombie & Price LTD (1200m).

“Ears Back will go back a bit from her draw (10),” Blackadder said. “She is working really well and we are looking forward to the races at Riccarton on September 2, there is a 1600m Open there for her.

“1200m was too short for Kahma Suitsya last start and 1600m should be right up her alley.

“Silver Cannon has come back from an injury. She had bone chips removed from her knee and she has had quite a long layoff. The last time she did that she won fresh-up. She is working very well.”

Looking ahead to the spring, Blackadder is excited by his stable and said it is the best line-up he has trained.

“We are working about 25 and we have probably got the best team I have ever had,” he said.

“I have got nine three-year-olds and a few young two-year-olds.

“In the older horses, Lagerfeld looks like he is going to be a pretty promising stayer.”

Blackadder is also positive about the return of Group Three winner and former Hong Kong galloper Eptimum following his tendon injury earlier this year.

The now nine-year-old gelding pleased Blackadder last term when winning three races, including the Southland Stakes (1400m), and ran fourth in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m).

He sustained a tendon injury in his last start at Riccarton in March and Blackadder is taking a patient approach with his return.

“We got him scanned a couple of weeks ago and his leg has come right,” Blackadder said.

“He damaged a tendon in his last start. We got him scanned and the vet said they would reassess him in four months and we did that.

“She said he is looking really good, so we will give him another three months and then reassess him again.

“He is nine now, but he is getting better with age. He won the Southland Stakes and has gone really well.”