Stephen Nickalls had the ride of a lifetime several years ago with his quality filly Llanacord, and now he is hoping he has found another.

The daughter of Contributer won the 2021 edition of the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) before placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. She then crossed the Tasman where she was 10^th in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) before she was runner-up in the Gr.3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m).

Five years on and Nickalls believes he has a filly that fits the same mould in Iffigive, another daughter of Contributer who has placed in her last two starts.

“This filly right the way through has always reminded us a lot of Llanacord,” Nickalls said. “The fact that she has the same ownership adds to the similarities.

“She has always been very similar and it looks like she will be a nice progressive three-year-old.”

Iffigive will be tested at stakes level for the first time on Saturday when she heads to Trentham to contest the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and off her recent performances Nickalls is hopeful of a bold showing.

“She had two super placings. She ran second at Woodville behind Empirical and it was a really tough run,” the Rangiotu trainer said. “She knocked a knee after that so had a fortnight in the paddock, which might have been a blessing as it gave her some time to mature and develop.

“On Boxing Day at Otaki she hit the front and then flicked her ears and had a look around. By the time she realised the others were going past her she then knuckled down and came again. It was a very good run and she has improved from that Boxing Day run.

“We took her away to Waipuk the other day where she galloped with another one of mine over there for Kate (Hercock, jockey) to have a look at, and she did everything right.

“I am very excited and looking forward to the weekend.”

Iffigive has drawn barrier 11, but that poses no concerns for Nickalls.

“With the rain around it won’t be the worst draw,” he said.

A solid performance on Saturday will set up a return trip Trentham in a fortnight where Iffigive will seek to replicate Llanacord’s success in the Jennian Homes-sponsored Lowland Stakes.

“If she performs well and does everything right, we will press on to the Lowland in a fortnight,” Nickalls said. “We always thought she was going to get over ground. Her mother was a very good hurdler, so I don’t think getting over ground and staying is going to be a problem.

“We think she will stay and she is a lovely, big filly, so we want to get her over those staying trips.”

Iffigive holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), but Nickalls said the race’s transfer to Ellerslie next month has him questioning whether they will head north to tackle the fillies classic.

“We are not 100 percent sure (about the NZ Oaks),” he said. “With the shift to Auckland, and the way they have changed the programme around, it makes it a little more difficult. You have to go the opposite way around and the programming doesn’t work the same as when it did when it was there (Trentham) in March.

“If she performs well and does everything right, we will certainly look at it.”