Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb scored black-type last start when runner-up in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) on her home track and trainer Kim Reid is hoping she can go one better in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

“I thought she would go well there,” Reid said. “The track conditions work in her favour if they are a bit off because she will run on anything, where some of the others won’t.

“It was nice to get that (black-type), but it would be nice to go one better than that, and I am sure we will get there.”

The five-year-old daughter of Complacent has been a consistent performer for Reid, who also co-bred and owns the mare, and she has been pleased with her career trajectory to date.

“I think she is improving all of the time,” Reid said. “She is one of those neat, progressive horses, which I guess is what you like to see. She loves her work and her routine.”

It has been more than a month between runs for Hi Yo Sass Bomb and the mare readied for her weekend assignment with a trial win over 1200m at Foxton last week.

“She ran super last week. She was strong to the line and Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) was happy with her,” Reid said.

Expat Irish jockey Joe Doyle will partner Hi Yo Sass Bomb for the first time this weekend where she has drawn the ace barrier.

“There is a good incentive with the one draw to run a bit handier,” Reid said.

“She does draw out and it has become her pattern to sit back and relax a bit, but we will look to go forward from that draw. I think she will run forward and I think she will tough it out at the end.”

While confident of a good showing this weekend, Reid thinks her mare is better suited over more ground and is looking forward to stepping her back up over 2000m in next month’s Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham.

“I still think up over 2000m is her ideal distance,” she said. “We will use this race as a lead-in to go over 2000m in the Manawatu Breeders’. She is always consistent and is there or thereabouts and is always flying at the end.”

If Hi Yo Sass Bomb performs well on Saturday, Reid hasn’t ruled out changing up those plans and heading to Ellerslie for the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) a week prior.

“We will see how she goes on Saturday,” she said. “It (NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’) is a really nice race and I think she is capable over a mile as well in the right conditions."