New Zealand Derby favourite Coniston Bluebird will have his final Australian hitout at Randwick on Saturday ahead of his trip across the Tasman in search of Group One glory.The three-year-old runs in the Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1800m) with top weight of 59.5kg in the field of six.Trainer Bede Murray is more than happy with his progress since his last-start third over 1500 metres on December 27, his first start since the decision to geld Coniston Bluebird.Glyn Schofield will be aboard at Ran

New Zealand Derby favourite Coniston Bluebird will have his final Australian hitout at Randwick on Saturday ahead of his trip across the Tasman in search of Group One glory.

The three-year-old runs in the Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1800m) with top weight of 59.5kg in the field of six.

Trainer Bede Murray is more than happy with his progress since his last-start third over 1500 metres on December 27, his first start since the decision to geld Coniston Bluebird.

Glyn Schofield will be aboard at Randwick but a commitment to Predatory Pricer in Sydney on February 28, the same day as the Derby, means Murray has had to look elsewhere for a rider and Scott Seamer is the number one choice.

Predatory Pricer is trained by Murray's son Paul and is one of the leading contenders for the AJC Australian Derby in April with his campaign scheduled to begin with the Hobartville Stakes.

"Coniston Bluebird is booked to go to New Zealand on the ninth of February," Murray said.

"He will run over 2100 metres at Ellerslie on the 14th as a lead-up to the Derby.

"I thought his last start was excellent because it was only 28 days since he had been gelded so obviously he had a couple of easy weeks after the operation.

"I expect him to be very competitive at Randwick. It's a small field but he's handled those before.

"Everything is going very well in the lead-up to the Derby with the only glitch that Predatory Pricer is returning on the same day so Glyn will be needed in Sydney.

"Scott Seamer is on stand by at the moment so providing all goes well on Saturday we'll take it from there."

Seamer is no stranger to New Zealand having won several Group One races there including the 2001 Derby on Leica Guv.

Coniston Bluebird is at $12 on the NZ TAB ahead of Firebolt at $16 with a group on $21.

Prior to being gelded, Coniston Bluebird won over 1500 and 2100 metres but almost threw the latter race away when he lost concentration as he got to the front.

That performance confirmed the gelding operation.

"He has never had any major problems but I think we gelded him at the right time," Murray said.

"He's still got a few little traits but he's coping well."

Coniston Bluebird is by Scenic, sire of Melbourne Cup winner Viewed and Universal Prince who Murray trained to win the 2001 AJC Australian Derby.

Murray took Universal Prince to Hong Kong and Singapore and has no concerns about the trip to New Zealand with Coniston Bluebird.

"It's not a long trip and he is going to a similar climate," he said.

"And the trip itself shouldn't be a worry, he travels from the south coast to Sydney and that can take almost as long."