Matamata trainer Cody Cole is following a similar blueprint to last year with his Group One performer Navigator, who will head into the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday fresh-up.

The six-year-old son of El Roca was also in a fresh state when placing in the race last year, and Cole saw no reason not to follow that same path this year.

“We did that last year with him and that’s the way to have him,” Cole said. “He performed well there last year and I feel like we have got him going a bit better than that this year.”

The Navigator hasn’t been sighted on raceday since he was unplaced in his sole start over spring in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie in September, but Cole is happy with the way he has come up this time in and is hopeful of a bold showing on Saturday.

“He had a jumpout at Te Rapa and he won that comfortably on the bridle, so we know he is back to himself,” Cole said. “He had a few niggles in the spring and we have put those behind us and hopefully the best version of him turns up tomorrow, and if he does, he shouldn’t be too far off them.”

Cole is also excited about the prospects of two-year-old filly Silhouette, who will line-up in the Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes (1100m).

The daughter of Armory won on debut over 900m at Trentham in October, and she was set to return to the Upper Hutt track last month to contest the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), but a bout of colic thwarted those plans.

She has made a pleasing recovery and Cole is hopeful she can secure black-type this weekend.

“She was meant to go down for the Wakefield, but she had a bit of colic leading into it and disappointedly we didn’t get there, but she seems right now,” he said.

“They don’t give away stakes races, but she looks to be a nice chance on paper and if she performs up to her best, and puts the last couple of weeks behind us, I think she can go pretty close to it.”

Stablemate Bow Hill will be given her first tilt at stakes level when she contests the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts LTD Marton Cup (2200m), and she heads into the race in good form, having placed in her last two outings.

“It is a bit of a throw at the stumps with her but she is probably in the best form that we have had her in,” Cole said. “She has run a couple of really bold races in her last two starts and she has done it the hard way coming from back. I think she deserves a chance and a bit of the first three money would be great.”

Latrelle just missed out on securing black-type when fourth in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham last month and Cole said she has progressed in the right direction since, believing she will be a major player in the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) on Saturday.

“She was unlucky not to get a bit of black-type there last time at Trentham in the Group Two,” Cole said. “She was three-wide with no cover in weight-for-age, and it took its toll in the last 50m and she just came to the end of it. She will be better for that run, she has bounced through it well and she typically goes well at Trentham.”

There’s plenty of pressure on Cole’s shoulders as his promising filly Cheerio gets set to contest the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m) carrying the well-known silks of owner-breeder John Messara of Arrowfield Stud.

The daughter of Maurice placed on debut over 1200m at Tauranga in October before winning at Ruakaka last month and will take on a strong line-up when making her stakes debut this weekend.

“There is a little bit pressure going around in those silks,” Cole said.

“There are some well proven horses there, it is a pretty tough field. The manner in which she won last start and what she has shown us at home has been pleasing, we have always had a decent opinion of her.

“It is a tough ask from a sticky gate (12), but her work has been really good and she is probably a filly that is still on the up and she has got plenty of upside to come, whether it is going to be just yet or she needs a bit more time, we will find out on Saturday.”

On the Trentham undercard, Cole looks to have three strong contenders in Renovations, Miss Jones and Bradley.

Previously racing in Australia, the Trelawney Stud-raced Miss Jones won her New Zealand debut for Cole at Ellerslie last start and he believes she can double her tally if she brings her manners this weekend.

“She has come from Australia and she is a mare that has got ability, she just wants to do a bit wrong,” he said.

“I think down the chute at Trentham will suit her and with Opie on, there are a couple of positives there.

“She has just got to put it all together and after her last run we have learned a bit about her and popped the shadow roll on her and fingers-crossed she settles enough early and she can round it out like she did at Ellerslie.”

Group Three performer Renovations disappointed when seventh over 1400m at Te Rapa last month and Cole believes the recent wet weather will assist his mare on Saturday.

“She was a bit disappointing last start. I just think the track got a bit too firm towards the end of the day,” Cole said. “She probably appreciates her toe in the ground a bit more and it shouldn’t be too firm at Trentham with the rain around throughout the week.”

Cole’s team will be rounded out by Bradley, who is rated a $3.90 favourite to take out the Blue Star Group 1600.

“It has taken me a little while to figure him out,” Cole said. “He won really well fresh-up and he was a bit disappointing second-up at Counties, but I am putting that down to trainer error, I just backed him up a bit soon, which is just not his style.

“We put him in the paddock for 10 days leading into Trentham last start and it was a different performance to what we had the start before, and we have done the same thing again this time. Opie (Bosson, jockey) has obviously had a sit on him and he knows what he is capable of.”

Cole has had a good association with Trentham over the last few years and he is hoping to continue that this weekend.

“It has been really good to me over the years, I couldn’t say why,” he said. “Last season we had a lot of luck there and fingers-crossed we can keep it rolling. We have had a bit of luck so far this season and a good day tomorrow would be great.”