Gerald Innes is making plans for a return trip to Christchurch for his in-form mare Strolling Vagabond.

"I've nominated her for the Winter Cup, but she's only rated on 71 at the moment," the Opaki trainer said.

"Last year I sent her down to Pam Robson so she's familiar with her place and I'll see if I can do the same.

"There's an open mile at Oamaru on July 23 or a Rating 75 over 1400 on the same day that she can run in and if she can win there she might sneak into the Cup. I certainly think that's the way to go with her."

Strolling Vagabond, who placed three times on her last southern sojourn, has two wins and a last-start second behind fellow Riccarton hopeful Our Bandit at Trentham.

"She's always had the talent, she's just needed to strengthen up," Innes said.

"She's in the paddock for a week now and she has surprised me the way she has handled the mud."

Strolling Vagabond is raced by a syndicate, which includes Innes, after she was passed in at Karaka in 2015.

"We lease her from Lib Petagna's JML Bloodstock and we've got a right of purchase so we're keen to get some black type," Innes said.

Meanwhile, stablemate Class Above has gone for a break off the back of his last-start Woodville success.

"I think he's a pretty good horse and while most of the Zeds like heavy tracks, this one likes the better ground so he's out for a month," Innes said.