A bold performance in today's Te Whangai Romneys Hawke's Bay Hurdle (3100m) could see star jumper Monarch Chimes book a return trip to Australia this winter.
Chimes has already campaigned in Victoria this year, winning at Pakenham before finishing third in last month's Brierly Steeplechase (4200m) at Warrnambool and fourthin the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at the same track two days later.
On the radar in Australia is the Grand National Hurdles (3400m) at Sandown on August 5 and the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at the same track a fortnight later.
"If he goes really well on Saturday, that will probably be his go," trainer David Browne said. "Those races are worth A$250,000 and A$350,000 so it's well worth a crack if he can show he's going well enough."
TAB bookmakers opened Monarch Chimes as a $4.20 equal favourite with Kipkeino for the Hawke's Bay Hurdles, with No Change at $4.50 and It's A Wonder at $5.50 the next best in betting.
"Probably what held us up the most there last time was that you have to trial at Warrnambool before you race there," Browne said.
"He slipped on a patch of slippery grass on the flat after he jumped and landed cleanly but the stipes made us go back and trial again and that just made a difference in getting him to the races the way we wanted to. Now he's been there, we don't have to trial."
Today's hurdle will be Monarch Chimes' first jumps race in New Zealand since he finished fourth in last year's Great Northern Hurdles (4190m) at Ellerslie, his first hurdle defeat after winning his previous three starts in the role.
He has continued to race well on the flat, finishing second before heading to Victoria in the autumn and placing at Avondale earlier this month in his leadup to the Hawke's Bay Hurdle.
