Wanganui trainer Nigel Auret says events leading up to Perfectlyenchanted's tilt at Saturday's Gr.3 L.J. Hooker Sales Team Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (2000m) at Trentham could have gone a lot smoother.

Two luckless lead-up runs, a change of venue and a late scramble for a suitable jockey have frustrated Auret, but he admits he is now presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to claim a valuable Group win for his six-year-old.

"She hasn't had the luckiest of runs in her last couple of starts, but we're pretty happy with her," Auret said.

"We gave her a long break in the spring because she was in work for 16 months before that. We brought her back in specifically to target this race, so we're happy with the way things have worked out but these races are still never easy to win."

Transferred to Trentham after the Manawatu Racing Club meeting set for Awapuni on Friday was abandoned, the weight-for-age Manawatu Breeders' Stakes has attracted only a moderate line-up of mares, illustrated by Cassie Anne as the highest rated runner with a rating of 77.

Perfectlyenchanted goes into the race on a rating of 74, having finished second in Rating 75 races at her past two starts at Otaki and Waipukurau, where she was held up in the home straight of the Waipukurau Cup.

In both starts, Leah Hemi took the ride, but she was committed to riding at Riccarton on Saturday.

Auret managed to secure the services of Hayden Tinsley, who he believes gives his mare an edge.

"He won her maiden race, but was too heavy to ride her going through the grades," said Auret, who bred and races Perfectlyenchanted with his wife Adaire, the couple having bred and raced from her family since the 1970s.

"Her half-sister Arcenciel won five and ran second in the Counties Cup so there's already black-type in the immediate family."

Auret will also produce Petite En Jeu, a last-start Tauherenikau winner in the Savaria Cup (1600m) at Trentham.

"She's been flying lately. We're really happy with her," he said.