A good performance from hardy sprinter Captain Bax in the Carrington Stakes will book his plane ticket to New Zealand for the Group One Telegraph Handicap.The Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m) is one of two features at Randwick on New Year's Day with the Tattersall's Club Cup (2000m) the other.Trainer Kris Lees said the seven-year-old had done well since his win in the Listed Kevin Heffernan (1300m) at Sandown on November 15."We'll see how he goes in the Carrington but I'm keen to take him to New
A good performance from hardy sprinter Captain Bax in the Carrington Stakes will book his plane ticket to New Zealand for the Group One Telegraph Handicap.
The Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m) is one of two features at Randwick on New Year's Day with the Tattersall's Club Cup (2000m) the other.
Trainer Kris Lees said the seven-year-old had done well since his win in the Listed Kevin Heffernan (1300m) at Sandown on November 15.
"We'll see how he goes in the Carrington but I'm keen to take him to New Zealand," Lees said.
"He doesn't necessarily have to win but he needs to go well."
Lees said stablemate Fritz's Princess who was also entered for the Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in Wellington on January 17 would not make the trip.
Tim Martin, trainer of dual Group One winner Typhoon Zed, also ruled out the trip for his charge, opting instead for the Lightning Handicap in Melbourne on January 31 and a clash with Apache Cat and Weekend Hussler.
Although Captain Bax has yet to even run in a Group One race he does have a victory over Typhoon Zed in the Group Three Missile Stakes in August to his credit.
International sprint star Takeover Target is still in the mix for the Telegraph while Anthony Cummings is also keen to take Turffontein.
"He is booked on the plane on the 12th," Cummings said.
"He will have a barrier trial at Cranbourne on the sixth and we will see how forward he is then but I wold definitely like to take him."
Turffontein came within half a length of Group One glory when second to Swick in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington at his most recent start on November 8.
Horses will be able to travel quarantine free between Australia and New Zealand from January 5 after more than a year of strict protocols in the wake of the equine influenza outbreak in NSW and Queensland in August 2007.