Last year’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) place-getter Kaharau will bypass this year’s two-mile feature in favour of a lighter spring preparation.

The Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-Tuhoro trained gelding had his first hit-out of the season in a 1000m trial at Avondale on Tuesday, pleasing his connections after resuming from a disappointing Queensland winter campaign.

“It was very ordinary (his winter campaign),” Rae said. “I probably shouldn’t have taken him over there, but that’s hindsight.

“I was rapt with him in his trial, he went super.”

The seven-year-old will have another trial on his home track before a decision is made on his spring and summer targets.

“I’m going to give him another trial at Ruakaka and if he goes really good I’ll start him in the Matamata Cup,” Rae said. “Otherwise I’ll take him down to the South Island for a mile somewhere and maybe the Dunedin Gold Cup.

“He’s not ready for the New Zealand Cup this year.”