Bruce Smith thought he knew his stable star Kings Pal inside out, but the veteran galloper had a pleasant surprise in store for his Amberley trainer this week during their long trek north to Taranaki.
"He's coped with the trip 100 per cent, better than I thought he would," Smith said.
"I've had him all his life and I was a bit worried, but I couldn't be happier. He's settled in well and eaten everything up."
Today's ITM Interprovincial Challenge at New Plymouth has been a race on Kings Pal's programme for a while and was confirmed with three solid performances at Riccarton earlier in the month.
"I had a plan going into the Grand National carnival and he fronted up for us," Smith said.