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Sabin Kirkland has headed back to familiar territory this weekend in the hope of landing the big one again.

The Invercargill-based horseman, who is also heavily involved in the fishing industry, is chasing a second black type success for his precocious youngster Elusive Catch at Otaki and another victory in the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes.

Kirkland won the 2005 edition of the event with his former top-class performer Final Reality, who was trained by Michael Pitman.

“He also won the Castletown Stakes before the Ryder so hopefully I can do it again,” he said.

Final Reality progressed from his juvenile exploits to make his mark at the top level and was fourth in both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the New Zealand Derby. As an older horse he won the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and finished third in the Thorndon Mile.

Kirkland’s rising star Elusive Catch claimed the Listed Champagne Stakes in May before a successful return to Riccarton last time out to take her record to two wins and a debut second from three appearances.

“She hasn’t been out for eight weeks, but she’s done quite a bit of work at the beach and, in her last gallop at Leithfield, Chris (Johnson) said he couldn’t pull her up so that’s a good sign,” Kirkland said.

“She’s such a laid-back filly – that’s the beauty of her and she’s taking things all in her stride.”

However, that wasn’t always the case with the daughter of Elusive City, who failed to meet her reserve at Karaka and was subsequently leased to Kirkland and friends Grant McKenzie and All Black coach Steve Hansen.

“She was a bit of a handful when I first got her and then one day she turned the corner and the Elusive City’s are just flying at the moment,” Kirkland said.

“This will be a hit and run mission and then we’ll get her ready for the Canterbury Belle Stakes in September and hopefully on to the Guineas.”