The Hurdle family combined with Express Yourself at Otaki to celebrate a significant victory and they’re now daring to dream of Group One success next month.

Awapuni trainer Nikki Hurdle produced the mare in tip-top order for the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1200m) on Boxing Day and her Victorian-based son Ryan played his part with a flawless frontrunning ride.

“It was pretty special and something we had been planning for a wee while,” Hurdle said.

“She’s a very good mare and never lets us down and we’re pretty fortunate to have a horse like her.”

Ryan has been based across the Tasman for a number of years and a Christmas trip home was always going to be a case of mixing business with pleasure.

He is also booked to cross the Tasman again next month to partner Express Yourself in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 13.

“He will be coming back to ride her and I really wanted him to have a ride on her before then,” Hurdle said.

“I said to Ryan, if you want to ride her in the Group One then you really do have to be on her beforehand at some point and this was the best chance.

“The Telegraph has been her aim since she won a race with Tayla Mitchell at Awapuni (in April) when she ran a bit over 1.08s and I thought then, next prep we’ll aim for the Telegraph

“I looked at putting her in the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m), but I thought it would be too tough to do both, so we’ve given ourselves one grand final.”

Hurdle said she did have a concern about Express Yourself’s topweight of 60kg at Otaki, but the timing of the race was ideal for her Telegraph preparation.

“I knew Ryan would rate her and give her a great ride so we went ahead and she’s come through the run really well,” she said.

Express Yourself was quickly into stride to make the running and the daughter of Shamexpress held a strong gallop to account for Nod Of The Head and Tanzanite Rose, who were receiving three and nine kilos respectively.

Ryan, who has more than 500 career winners to his credit, recently relocated from South Australia to Victoria.

“He’s been at Ballarat for a couple of weeks now with his partner Jayah Kennedy and they will both hopefully be back for the Telegraph, it’s going to be an exciting couple of weeks,” Hurdle said.

“A lot of the owners are first-timers and they said they would have been happy just to win a maiden race and now look where we are.

“I think with an ounce of luck she could have almost won six or seven in a row.”

Express Yourself has posted five victories and three runner-up finishes from her last eight appearances.