SYDNEY - Caulfield Guineas winner Econsul will try to emulate New Zealander Solvit's 1994 feat by winning weight-for-age championships on both sides of the Tasman.
Trainer Graeme Rogerson said the rising 4-year-old would be set for a tilt at New Zealand's richest race, the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes at
Hastings on October 1 in preparation for the Cox Plate in Melbourne.
Rogerson is about to claim his 11th New Zealand premiership after a treble at the weekend gave him and training partner Stephen Autridge a healthy 16 win buffer over nearest rival Michael Pitman with the season to end on July 31. That was extended to 17 after a win at Tauranga yesterday.
With shares in around 80 per cent of the horses he trains, the Lloyd Williams team in Melbourne being the exception, the transtasman trainer is also a prime candidate to be named New Zealand's owner of the year.
"Our horses have won more than A$1.1 million in New Zealand, which is good going," Rogerson said.
"All up, in Australia and New Zealand, the total is close to A$11 million."
Econsul failed to emulate his spring form in the autumn but Rogerson said he was a lot happier with him this time in and he will tune up for his first-up assignment in the Warwick Stakes on August 20 with a barrier trial at Randwick tomorrow.
"I want to take him to New Zealand for the Kelt and will also set Cedar Manor for the race," Rogerson said.
"Then Econsul will come back to Australia and hopefully the Cox Plate."
The Rogerson-trained Savabeel gave Rogerson his first Cox Plate last year and he hopes to have four runners this time around with Econsul, Champagne Stakes winner Carry On Cutie and the Williams pair of Perlin and Activation.
The Kelt Capital is run over a course designed to emulate the 2040m lefthanded Moonee Valley circuit of the Cox Plate.
Starcraft travelled to New Zealand last year to attempt the double but was a close second to Balmuse in the Kelt and finished fourth in the Cox Plate to Savabeel.
Balmuse is equal favourite at $7 to win consecutive Kelts and shares top billing with New Zealand Derby winner Xcellent.
- AAP
