Lisa Latta breathed a major sigh of relief after the Group performer Platinum Command returned to top form at Riccarton.
The Awapuni trainer's decision to send the mare south for Saturday's Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Trial (1800m) proved to be a masterstroke with the daughter of Red Giant winning for the first time in 14 months.
"She's been a touch disappointing, although she had been racing on really heavy tracks over a mile and she needed a bit further," Latta said.
"Masa (Tanaka) rode her in the Metric Mile here and she didn't go a bad race, but he said she just ground to the line."
From the family of the multiple Group One winner Vengeance Of Rain, Platinum Command is raced by long-time stable clients Lincoln Farms and Neville McAlister.