Wanganui trainer JJ Rayner will head to Woodville on Friday where she will kick off the campaigns of two of her stable stars, with the pair having ambitions of heading to Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing in August.

Hacksaw Ridge was a consistent performer for Rayner last year, placing in five of his nine outings, including a runner-up performance in the Listed AGC Training Stakes WFA (1600m).

The Wanganui feature is once again in the crosshairs, however, with his improved travelling manners, a trip across the Cook Strait to tackle the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton is also in the offing.

“He has matured a lot and we are looking for a nice season with him,” Rayner said. “He does a few funny things and isn’t the easiest horse to ride or travel.

“He seems a lot better in the truck, so I think the main aim for us is to try and get him to the Winter Cup.

“We will also head to the AGC Training Stakes with him, he was second in it last year, and probably the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m).”

The six-year-old son of Power will be ridden by Lisa Allpress on Friday from barrier 11 in the David & Ellen Oliver (1400m), and Rayner is hoping he can get a soft trip from that draw.

“Lisa has ridden him before and gotten on well with him,” she said. “We are expecting a nice run from him first-up, without expecting too much.

“He is not the easiest horse to settle, but if he can get a bit of cover he can relax a little bit, so that is what we are hoping.”

Stablemate Lord Spencer was another who was in great form of Rayner last year, and she is hopeful he can add some prestige jumps titles to his record this season.

The six-year-old son of Zed had five starts over hurdles last year for a win and four placings, and will prepare to head back to that discipline following his second-up run in the Roly and Phillipa Ellis (2200m) on Friday.

“He has come up well, but he will need the run,” Rayner said. “He has been going to Waverley and has been doing a couple of jumping days there.

“Lemmy Douglas will ride him in his first few jumping races.

“His main aim this year are the big hurdle races. We would like to think we can head down to the Grand National at Riccarton with him too.

“He is a lovely horse and hopefully we will have a nice season with him.”

Rayner is also excited about the prospects of Tutin Cans this winter.

“Tutin Cans, a half-brother to Hacksaw Ridge, is coming up nicely again,” she said. “On his day he is a very good horse, so I would like to have a bit of fun with him."