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A former successful Matamata trainer’s Australian career will begin in earnest this week with a New Zealand Group One winner among his first representatives.

The now Pakenham-based horseman Jason Bridgman has taken over the preparation of Pondarosa Miss, who will step out in Saturday’s Listed Ballarat Cup.

“She has been here since she came over and I’m very grateful that the Hollinsheads have left her with me,” he said.

“The mare has really turned a corner since her run at Flemington where nothing went right and she has improved out of sight.

“She’s eating well now and doing everything we could wish for. James Winks will be riding her.”

Pondarosa Miss was accompanied to Australia last month by part-owner Darrell Hollinshead, whose father Peter trained the mare to win the Gr.1 Easter Handicap earlier this year, with hopes of making the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup line-up.

After failing to make the field, she stepped out on the last day of the Flemington carnival in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes, but Plan B also went awry.

“Dwayne Dunn said he gave her a dig at the start and she over-reacted and she was on the pace three wide without cover all the way,” Hollinshead said.

“If she goes well on Saturday then she will probably stay over there with Jason, but if not she will probably come home so there are options for her either way.

“Jason has got a really good set-up there with paddocks and a water walker. It’s a lovely place and just like home for the mare.”

Bridgman moved to Victoria earlier this year to further his career and the former Te Akau head trainer has established his operation near the Pakenham Racing Cub's new Racing.com Park.

“This will be my first week of racing with one (Aldo) in at Benalla on Thursday, or he could run at Kyneton on Friday where I’ve got a mare (Kochamma) entered,” he said.