Wanganui owner-trainer Allan James would love to have a crack at the Wellington Cup (3200m) with his classy galloper Starbo.
James realises his chances of striking a wet track in January are minimal but he is keen to give the horse another crack at 3200m.
Starbo won over the distance at theTaranaki "xtreme" meeting 12 months ago and went on to tackle the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton. But he failed to flatter, beating just two home.
But James believes that result was more the horse's dislike of travelling rather than failing to cope with the 3200m.
"He's not the same horse when you have to travel him overnight, but with Wellington we could travel down on the day," James said.
"I could give him a break over Christmas and train him at the beach during January.
"You never know, you might strike a track with the sting out of it."
Starbo notched up his 10th career win when he relished the heavy conditions at Otaki on Saturday to score impressively in the $15,000 Lion Brown 1600.
He won the same race last year before going on to run second in the Egmont Cup (2300m) and fourth in the Feilding Cup (2100m).
Those two races are likely to be on his programme again this year with the $20,000 Egmont Cup on October 18. The $60,000 Feilding Cup is on November 1.
Starbo was sent out a warm favourite at Otaki after taking on weight-for-age company in the Glenmorgan Stakes (1600m) at his previous start.
"I don't think he is really a weight-for-age horse and I was a bit surprised he coped with the weight [56kg] on Saturday," said James. "I wasn't that confident."
Starbo was ridden by Brian Hibberd, who has chalked up three wins on him.
He took the honours by 1 1/4 lengths from Galahad with Supa Belt three-quarters of a length back third.
