Hiflyer will make his final appearance in Australia, for the time being, at Rosehill on Saturday week.
The Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) will close out his current Sydney venture with trainer Peter Lock keen on a return to the Melbourne spring carnival.
“We came over to put our toe in the water and see if he’d settle in and eat, which he’s done, with a view to coming back later on,” he said.
A race such as the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield is a possible longer-range target.
Hiflyer finished a respectable fourth in last Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m), an effort that earned him a pass mark from Lock.
“He’s not a 1400m horse and he had a big weight (59.5kg),” he said. “Saturday week’s race over 1500m isn’t ideal, it’s a fraction short but we’ll be more than happy if he runs that well again.
“He’ll go home after this and get ready for a couple of the Group One races at Hawke’s Bay and then hopefully we’ll go to Melbourne.”
– NZ Racing Desk
