Chad Ormsby has no doubt that promising filly Moana has returned from a spring spell a far superior version of her previous self.
The Waikato trainer will produce the Ocean Park filly in Saturday's Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie in her first start since a luckless third in the Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings at the beginning of October.
She was denied clear running that day but still only went down a nose and a head at the hands of Aegon and Bourbonaire, 3-year-olds that then ran the quinella of the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last month.
"Every man in Australasia saw that she should have probably beaten them both," Ormsby said.
"She had two weeks out after that race and even in that time, she put on 50 kilos and has strengthened a lot. She's improved and she's turning into a real racehorse. She feels amazing and her demeanour has improved. She means business now."