Trainer Michael Trotter believes Rumbled Again is improving with age, comparing the mare to a fine wine as she prepares for her seasonal return.

The now eight-year-old will kick off her campaign in the Victorian Jockeys’ Association Trophy (1410m) at Flemington on Saturday, with Trotter hopeful she can once again secure valuable Black Type.

Rumbled Again claimed her most significant win in last year’s Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Caulfield, and Trotter is optimistic about how she has returned from her latest break.

“She’s bigger and stronger than ever, which is amazing for an eight-year-old mare,” Trotter said. “This is the best I’ve had her both physically and mentally. She’s really loving her work.”

Her autumn campaign was plagued with setbacks. After slipping at the start and injuring a hamstring first-up at Caulfield, she was withdrawn from a Sydney race when the vet deemed her three-out-of-five lame.

“She’s always had a bit of a shuffly action, but that was an argument I wasn’t going to win. If I thought something was wrong, we wouldn’t have gone at all,” Trotter said.

She then produced a strong fifth in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley before an unlucky run in the Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo, where she suffered a significant gash on her hind leg after being galloped on.

“She was in a great spot and just as she was about to get into the race, that happened. The cut was nasty, and that ended her campaign,” Trotter said.

With two jump-outs under her belt, including one at Cranbourne on Monday, Rumbled Again will be ridden by Harry Coffey this weekend. Looking ahead, Trotter has the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in September pencilled in as a likely target.