But that's not dissuading Matamata trainer Ken Kelso as he plans the spring programme of ace filly Bounding.

Instead Kelso reasons that Bounding has already broken a 33-year jinx on three-year-old fillies winning the Gr. 1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie earlier this year so she's already proven she can break new ground.

And besides, the Lonhro filly has pleased him no end since returning to training about a month ago.

"She's been back in work nearly a month and she's coming along really well," Kelso said.

"I'll just play it by ear with her. Whether she kicks off here or goes straight to Australia, it's probably really just down to track conditions. It's hard to set a programme for horses at this time of year here but the plan is to get her to Australia for the two Group One sprints in Melbourne.

"It all hinges on how she's coming up but if we go straight to Australia, she'll probably have a trial here first. Otherwise we'll try and find a suitable 1200m race here for her before we go."

Bounding's sprint aims are the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 24 and the VRC Classic at Flemington on November 8.

Bounding made her Australian debut in the Gr.2 $A500,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick as part of the Sydney autumn carnival, going down by a short neck behind Sidestep.

At home, Bounding had a near-flawless record, winning five of her six starts and running a desperately unlucky second in the Gr.1 1000 Guineas when she was trapped three-wide throughout in an eight-horse field.

She had earlier beaten Group One winner Recite resuming at Taupo last August before claiming the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings - beating 1000 Guineas winner Costa Viva - and the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa.

She won the Railway Stakes first-up on New Year's Day and was again fresh-up when winning the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie in March against her own age.

Her season exploits have seen Bounding named among the finalists for the sprinter and three-year-old categories for the annual horse of the year awards.

Kelso, who trains in partnership with his wife Bev, believed Bounding's best chance for honours came in the sprinting category.

"She's got a royal chance in sprinter of the year," he said.

"She was the first horse since Gold Hope to win the Railway against the older horses as a three-year-old filly in 33 years and she carried more weight than Gold Hope did too."

Bounding had six starts in the sprinter distance category, winning all five of her New Zealand sprinting starts before her Royal Sovereign Stakes second.

The other sprinter of the year finalists are Viadana, Survived, Irish Fling and Veyron.

FP	Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam	Jockey Trainer	SP WT
1st	1. SIDESTEP (AUS) 3yo C EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - DEXTROUS (AUS)	KERRIN MCEVOY PETER SNOWDEN	$4.5 56.5kg
	Godolphin
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2019 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale (1902) | T Angland, Sydney, Nsw | Suffolk Vale & Co | AUD $ 25,000 2019 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale (1902)   T Angland, Sydney, Nsw  Suffolk Vale & Co AUD $ 25,000
2nd	11. BOUNDING (AUS) 3yo F LONHRO (AUS) - BELIEVE'N'SUCCEED (AUS)	MARK DU PLESSIS KEN KELSO	$4 54.5kg
	G E Harding
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2016 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale (611) | Willow Park Stud Scone Nsw | Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings | AUD $ 1,900,000 2016 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale (611)   Willow Park Stud Scone Nsw  Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings AUD $ 1,900,000  | Inglis | 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (65) | Willow Park Stud, Scone | G Harding | AUD $ 425,000 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (65)   Willow Park Stud, Scone  G Harding AUD $ 425,000
3rd	4. IN CAHOOTS (AUS) 3yo G BRADBURY'S LUCK (AUS) - HOT COPPER (AUS)	DAMIEN OLIVER PHILLIP ATKINS	$26 56.5kg
	Turfscape Racing (Mgr: L R Rowan)
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2012 Sydney Classic Yearling Sale (444) | Carramar Park, Grose Wold | L Rowan | AUD $ 10,000 2012 Sydney Classic Yearling Sale (444)   Carramar Park, Grose Wold  L Rowan AUD $ 10,000
4th	10. THUMP (AUS) 3yo F RED RANSOM (USA) - OOMPH (AUS)	JIM CASSIDY KRIS LEES	$5.5 54.5kg
5th	3. DOTHRAKI (AUS) 3yo G MOSSMAN (AUS) - VOLANTIS (AUS)	NASH RAWILLER GERALD RYAN	$17 56.5kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2012 National Yearling Sale (1283) | Baramul Stud | Triple Crown Syndications | AUD $ 45,000 2012 National Yearling Sale (1283)   Baramul Stud  Triple Crown Syndications AUD $ 45,000
6th	8. HAVANA (AUS) 3yo G STARCRAFT (NZ) - TOP CUBAN (AUS)	CRAIG WILLIAMS PAUL MESSARA	$26 56.5kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale 1-5 (375) | Arrowfield Stud (As Agent) | Blue Sky Thoroughbreds | AUD $ 290,000 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale 1-5 (375)   Arrowfield Stud (As Agent)  Blue Sky Thoroughbreds AUD $ 290,000
7th	9. CHAUTAUQUA (AUS) 3yo G ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - LOVELY JUBLY (AUS)	JAMES MCDONALD M, W & J HAWKES	$5.5 56.5kg
	Sales Information  | Inglis | 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (253) | Berkeley Park Stud, Scone | Psd. AUD $ 300,000 Res. AUD $ 400,000 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale (253)   Berkeley Park Stud, Scone  Psd. AUD $ 300,000 Res. AUD $ 400,000
8th	12. SHAMALIA (AUS) 3yo F SHAMARDAL (USA) - LAYLIA (AUS)	GLYN SCHOFIELD BART & JAMES CUMMINGS	$12 54.5kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2019 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale (1539) | Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, Nsw | Beaufort Bloodstock | AUD $ 300,000 2019 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale (1539)   Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, Nsw  Beaufort Bloodstock AUD $ 300,000
9th	5. NEVER CAN TELL (AUS) 3yo G WAR PASS (USA) - CHALEE (USA)	ZAC PURTON ANTHONY CUMMINGS	$41 56.5kg
10th	6. TURQUOISE KING (AUS) 3yo G STRATUM (AUS) - GIRLS RULE (AUS)	TOMMY BERRY M, W & J HAWKES	$31 56.5kg
	Sales Information  | NZB | 2012 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs (119) | Phoenix Park | Mr Dc Ellis | NZD $ 150,000 2012 Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs (119)   Phoenix Park  Mr Dc Ellis NZD $ 150,000  | Magic Millions | 2012 National Yearling Sale (1406) | Rosemont Stud (As Agent) | New Zealand Bloodstock Limited | AUD $ 21,000 2012 National Yearling Sale (1406)   Rosemont Stud (As Agent)  New Zealand Bloodstock Limited AUD $ 21,000  | Magic Millions | 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale 1-5 (647) | Rosemont Stud (As Agent) | Psd. AUD $ Res. AUD $ 40,000 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale 1-5 (647)   Rosemont Stud (As Agent)  Psd. AUD $ Res. AUD $ 40,000
11th	2. SAFEGUARD (AUS) 3yo C EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - PRESERVE (AUS)	HUGH BOWMAN PETER SNOWDEN	$16 56.5kg
	Sales Information  | Magic Millions | 2019 Perth Autumn Thoroughbred Sale (40) | Forest View Farm, Jindong, Wa | AUD $ 21,000 2019 Perth Autumn Thoroughbred Sale (40)   Forest View Farm, Jindong, Wa  AUD $ 21,000