The reinvention of Puccini is set to continue at Trentham as the New Zealand Derby winner seeks a second Group One triumph.

A planned spring visit to Australia fell over after the noted front-runner over-raced while trying to chase a tearaway leader in the Spring Classic at Hastings.

It helped convince trainers Peter and Jacob McKay to work on getting the horse to settle and race from off the pace, something he did successfully with a narrow win in the Group Three Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham in late October.

Puccini returns to Trentham on Saturday for the weight-for-age Group One Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and Peter McKay says it's important to ensure the horse races kindly.

"If he gets to the front easily he can lob along, but when a horse was ahead of him in the lead he gets too competitive and he wants to run a bit hard," McKay said.

"He got away with things a bit as a three-year-old but he needs to settle better going forward."

McKay said settling back might even count against Puccini in an eight-horse field at Trentham but it was important for the horse's long term.

Puccini is likely to head to the Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day after Saturday's race, with a return to Australia a possibility in autumn.

McKay said Australians didn't see the best of Puccini in two Sydney starts last autumn. His saddle slipped when 12th in the Rosehill Guineas and his Australian Derby fourth was on an unsuitable wet track.

Puccini shares favouritism for the Captain Cook Stakes at $3.60 with classy Taranaki mare I Do, with Pure Champion, Shuka and Nashville all under double-figure odds.