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A transformed Amarula is ready to double his winning tally at Ruakaka this weekend.

The Thorn Park juvenile successfully returned from a break last time out on the Whangarei course and he hasn’t missed a beat ahead of Saturday’s return for the Donovan’s Trade Zone 1200.

“He was one of our smallest yearlings when we bought him and now he’s one of our biggest colts,” said Jacob McKay, who trains the two-year-old with his father Peter.

“He’s obviously well-related being a half-brother to Little Wonder and out of a half-sister to Puccini and Sir Slick so it would be nice to get some more black type with him in the future.”

Amarula weighed in twice during his short summer campaign before he overcame a wide run to beat Sheradream when resuming last month.

“He’s a colt that has drawn a lot of confidence from that and he’s come on very nicely since then,” McKay said.

“We’ll take it a race at a time with him, but if he does well there’s a stakes race back at Ruakaka again and then we could go forward to Hastings.”

The stable will also be represented in the other juvenile event on the card, the BBS Timbers 2YO, by De Niro who was unplaced in his only start before Christmas.

“He’s shown a lot of raw ability, but mentally he’s taken a bit longer,” McKay said. “We’ve been trying to get him to relax and he’s a happy horse now, he’s got the ability run in the first three.”

The elder statesman of the team is Antonio Lombardo who is also in top order for the Pacific Homes Open 1400.

“He’s come on really well since his last race,” McKay said. “He’s every trainer and owner’s dream - he was a $120,000 yearling and he’s earned $600,000 and another $100,000 in bonuses. He’s been very good to us.”