A stunning eight-length debut win at Te Rapa yesterday by a Darci Brahma colt called Cauthen has racing tongues wagging in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Herald says connections have always rated the colt very highly, and they are now planning an assault on Group 1 glory in Melbourne in the Spring.
Trainer Andrew Campbell, who bought the colt for $NZ85,000 at the NZ select yearling sale, says he will bring the colt to Melbourne and aim him at the $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Winning jockey Buddy Lamas and Campbell described the win as effortless by the horse named after former champion US jockey Steve Cauthen.
"He's always been a good horse and we have always thought a lot of him," Campbell said.
"It seems like we have been waiting a long time for him but he has shown us heaps,” he added.
Buddy Lammas, who also made the journey north for the ride, was equally impressed.
"He just cruised," he said.
"He was a lovely horse when I rode him at the trials and that's why I was happy to come up here to ride him.
"That's what I drove five hours for, and I will travel further if need be to ride him,” Lammas said.
"He will likely have a couple of weeks off and I hope to run him in the Vain Stakes (1100m) en route to the Caulfield Guineas,” Campbell said.