Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb has seen a fair bit of the country over the last few months but will stick closer to home this week when she tackles the Landmark Homes City Of New Plymouth Cup (1800m) at New Plymouth Raceway on Friday.

The daughter of Complacent has competed at Group level in her last three starts, trekking down to Trentham in October where she finished sixth in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) before she crossed the Cook Strait for the first time and finished fourth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeder’s Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton a month later, before returning north where she finished fifth in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa earlier this month.

Trainer Kim Reid, who also co-bred and co-owns the five-year-old mare, was pleased with all three efforts and said her trip down south has really helped her mature.

“She wasn’t a great traveller in the past, but she has definitely improved a lot and her trip down south has helped her grow up a little bit. She has come back cooler and calmer,” Reid said.

“I hear often just go up through the grades, but she has shown a lot early and I have always believed in her. She hasn’t disappointed in any of her starts in Group company and I think she has got a nice future ahead.”

Hi Yo Sass Bomb will drop back to Rating 75 grade on Friday, and while the initial plan was to remain in Open grade and head to the Taupo Cup (2000m) on Saturday, Reid is looking forward to supporting her local meeting.

“We were going to go to the Taupo Cup but a few things came up. She was probably better suited for that, but we will give her a run locally,” she said.

“It should be a bit easier for her with no travel.”

A spell is looming for Hi Yo Sass Bomb, however, she may get another tilt at stakes level before heading to the paddock.

“She has been in work for quite a long time, but it hasn’t seemed to have bothered her,” Reid said.

“I will take it one race at a time at this point, but we are looking at the Trentham Stakes (Gr.3, 2100m).”

Reid is enjoying racing her homebred mare at Group level and said it is very rewarding after the years invested into the mare.

“She is an amazing horse. I bred her with my parents and its neat for them to be there as well with her. They have always been big supporters,” she said.

“I broke her in myself and do all the track riding and it is rewarding (racing her at Group level). I just love the horse, she is a neat and tough little mare.

“Right from day dot she was a little bit special, so it is great to see her out there doing it.”