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El Pistola’s poor performance at Te Rapa last time out still has Nathan Hanley searching for answers.

The capable mare beat only one runner home in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes and nothing has subsequently been found to be amiss with the five-year-old.

“We were pretty hopeful, but she went very ordinary and we can’t explain it,” said Hanley, who trains El Pistola with his partner Kylie Whiting.

“We couldn’t find anything wrong with her and it’s a bit of a mystery, perhaps she just had an off day.

“She went a few poor ones when she first started off, but since we put the hood on her she’s gone ahead in leaps and bounds - that last start came right out of the blue, but she has been working well since.”

El Pistola will be given an opportunity to turn her fortunes around when she runs in Saturday’s Gr.3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup.

“We’ve been thinking she deserves a break so she’ll probably go out after this one,” Hanley said.

“She had a lengthy summer campaign and then leading into the Auckland Cup it wasn’t ideal her having three runs in three weeks.”

Unplaced in the Listed Kaimai Stakes, El Pistola backed up to win the Nathans Memorial at Ellerslie and she returned seven days later to finish a creditable eighth in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup.

Hanley has confidence in the El Hermano mare’s two mile ability and is looking forward to her proving that next season.

“She can have six to eight weeks out after Saturday and then we’ll have her back for the spring racing and the cups,” he said.