Ken and Bev Kelso are hoping for another victory in the country’s premier Group One event for fillies and mares, but this time a different route has been forced on them.

Cote D’Or opened her Group One campaign in perfect fashion on Saturday.

Sensible Princess wins 2017 Auckland T’bred Breeders Stks Group 2 NZ$100,000 at Pukekohe Park (NZ), 1400m.

Matamata trainers Bev and Ken Kelso are going into Saturday’s Counties meeting hopeful rather than confident with their two black-type contenders.

Royally bred four-year-old Cote D’or showed she will be a contender for higher honours next season when she dominated her opposition in the Bayleys Real Estate 2100 at Tauranga.