Horowhenua horseman Chris Rutten is taking a patient approach with the return of Group Two winner Scott Base, with the son of Dalghar recovering from an operation earlier this year.

“He’s had an operation where he had a bone chip taken out in January,” Rutten said.

“It has taken him quite a bit (of time), we just wanted to give him the time he needed to recover from that properly.

“Dave Keenan (vet) did the operation. He is on the water-walker at the moment for about a month. We will just bring him up slowly and see how he looks after that.”

Before his operation, the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) hero contested all three legs of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival last season, with his best result being a fourth-placing in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

“They (his runs) were just a bit below par for him. He got trapped a bit, the runs weren’t going his way really,” Rutten said.