Champion trainer Mark Purdon wasn't getting too carried away with the good or the bad when his superstars returned to the track yesterday.
New Zealand's best pacer Have Faith In Me downed stablemates Lazarus and Smolda in an Ashburton workout, their first public outing on the road to November's New Zealand Cup.
But while the trio were not extended to cruise over their last 800m in 57 seconds, their final 400 in 26.8, the workout wasn't all plain sailing, with Have Faith In Me galloping for the first 50m.
That revives memories of last season when he was iffy at best from standing starts and again sends a warning shot across the bows of punters eyeing the $3.20 quote for him to win the Cup. But Purdon was willing to give his Auckland Cup and Miracle Mile winner a fresh-up pass for yesterday's gallop.
"It wasn't ideal but fresh up that sort of thing can happen fresh," said Purdon.