Twain will be out to replicate the deeds of his dam when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate.
His dam, Fleur de Lune, was runner-up in the race in 2011 for trainer Lee Somervell before winning a year later, and trainer John Bell believes Twain can match that feat.
The five-year-old son of Per Incanto hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his career, winning six and placing in three of his 10 starts to date.
After posting two wins at the start of this preparation, Twain was runner-up over 1200m behind Midnight Scandal at Te Rapa earlier this month, and Bell said his gelding has felt the effects of the tough run.
Emotions will run high if warhorse Mali Ston can go one better than 2024.
“If there’s any horse that deserves something it’s Mali Ston, he’s been through the wars after he broke his pedal bone and had 18 months off, and we were going to retire if not have to put him down,” co-trainer Briar Weatherley said.
“He’s come back and hasn’t won a race since, but he’s run third in a (Group 1) Thorndon Mile with Group Two seconds.”