Liam Birchley is plotting another win at New Zealand's Karaka Million race day but this time with a three-year-old.
The Eagle Farm trainer has won the Karaka Million two-year-old race at Ellerslie twice with Sister Havana (2010) and Hardline (2015).
He is hoping well-bred gelding Chamalu will give him a chance to win the Karaka Three-Year-Old Classic in January.
Chamalu scored an impressive debut win in a maiden (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday and the astute Birchley was immediately looking across the Tasman.
"I paid $200,000 for him at the Karaka Sale last year," Birchley said.
"I really liked the look of him. His sire Redwood was a 2000 metre horse and Chamalu is out of an O'Reilly mare so you would think he would get 3200 metres.
"But Chamalu has nice turn of pace. All going well I will look at trying to win a couple of races with him and pick up more prize money so we can got to the Karaka Million meeting for the three-year-old race in January."
Chamalu is by the High Chaparral stallion Redwood, himself a Group One winner, who stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand.
Birchley said Chamalu was bred to be a top class stayer and hadn't shown much in jump-outs until blinkers were added to his gear.
Winning jockey James Orman said Chamalu had to work hard from his wide barrier but fought on when challenged in the straight. -AAP
The Eagle Farm trainer has won the Karaka Million two-year-old race at Ellerslie twice with Sister Havana (2010) and Hardline (2015).
He is hoping well-bred gelding Chamalu will give him a chance to win the Karaka Three-Year-Old Classic in January.
Chamalu scored an impressive debut win in a maiden (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday and the astute Birchley was immediately looking across the Tasman.
"I paid $200,000 for him at the Karaka Sale last year," Birchley said.
"I really liked the look of him. His sire Redwood was a 2000 metre horse and Chamalu is out of an O'Reilly mare so you would think he would get 3200 metres.
"But Chamalu has nice turn of pace. All going well I will look at trying to win a couple of races with him and pick up more prize money so we can got to the Karaka Million meeting for the three-year-old race in January."
Chamalu is by the High Chaparral stallion Redwood, himself a Group One winner, who stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand.
Birchley said Chamalu was bred to be a top class stayer and hadn't shown much in jump-outs until blinkers were added to his gear.
Winning jockey James Orman said Chamalu had to work hard from his wide barrier but fought on when challenged in the straight. -AAP