Southern raider Lightning Jack is set to kick-off his northern campaign when he heads to Otaki on Thursday to contest the Vale Bav (Mick) Preston (1200m).

The Group One performer had put together two placings prior to a disappointing last start performance when finishing last in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Mile (1600m) at Riccarton earlier this month.

Trainer Kelvin Tyler said the better track conditions took their toll on the son of Per Incanto, but he has bounced through the run well.

“Lightning Jack carried on up after Riccarton. I thought we would try and head to tracks with a little bit of give because those Good2s are not doing him any favours,” the Riverton trainer said.

“He took a good week to get over his last run. He jarred up and he has never jarred up in his life. We have just put a line through it, he seems well.”

Tyler bases himself out of Otaki for his northern raids and said Lightning Jack has settled in well and he has welcomed the current wet conditions in the north, with the Otaki track rated a Soft5 on Tuesday morning.

“We have got a really good family connection with Lorraine and Howie Matthews, they are always welcoming and have got a really good property there,” Tyler said.

“It (rain) makes all the difference – a little bit of give in the ground and the horses are happier. He has settled in really nicely and did a nice bit of work on Saturday and seems to be on target.”

Thursday’s run will ready Lightning Jack for his main target at Trentham on Saturday-week, the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), and the seven-year-old gelding also holds nominations for the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January.

“He is having a bit of a run after Riccarton. Being the (temporary) home track and with a bit of give in the track we thought we would give it a go,” Tyler said.

“He has got a tonne of weight (62kg) to lug around, so I would be pleased if he runs in the top four. His main target will be the week after in the TAB Classic.

“The Thorndon Mile, he was pretty unlucky in that race last season (when third). That is his next target, but we put him in the Telegraph just in case he needed a wee freshen-up.”

The Tyler stable northern raid is set to get some reinforcements this weekend when Lightning Jack is joined by Prince Alby and Lady Sass.

“Prince Alby is going to target races at Wellington and Laddy Sass will go to the three-year-old race at Wellington next weekend and a race like the Eulogy (Gr.3, 1600m),” Tyler said.

“She is quite a mature three-year-old, has come through her racing well, so we thought while she’s flying we will attack it as there is nothing down here for three-year-olds in the next wee while.”

Meanwhile, Tyler is looking forward to heading to Cromwell this weekend where he will line-up half a dozen runners over the two-day meeting.

The southern meeting is one of the highlights on the racing calendar for Tyler, and his stable make the most of the iconic summer meeting.

“It is always a good weekend, I quite enjoy going up there,” he said.

“We rent a house up there, take the staff and have a fun weekend. Hopefully the weather plays its part. The track is always good up there.

“We have got six or eight horses we will end up taking up there. I have got Za Beauteous in the maiden 2000m and she has been close to winning. Albatross is going well and Go Lotte is back in her grade. I have got some nice chances."