Trainer David Kelly could have his first Group One runner in New Zealand next month if Eire Of Magic is successful in the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.Kelly, 40, a former Grafton-based jockey before retiring from the saddle seven years ago, is keen to send Eire Of Magic across the Tasman for the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day."If he wins this race I'd love to take him across for the Railway Stakes and it'll be a great thrill to have a ru

Trainer David Kelly could have his first Group One runner in New Zealand next month if Eire Of Magic is successful in the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Kelly, 40, a former Grafton-based jockey before retiring from the saddle seven years ago, is keen to send Eire Of Magic across the Tasman for the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

"If he wins this race I'd love to take him across for the Railway Stakes and it'll be a great thrill to have a runner in a Group One race over there," Kelly said.

Kelly is slowly building a strong stable on the Gold Coast where he has 30 horses on his books and plans to increase the number to around 40 in the near future.

Eire Of Magic produced an eye-catching performance last start when narrowly beaten by Sydney sprinter Black Prince in the Ferrier Hodgson Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on November 21.

Eire Of Magic will equal Kelly's best training performance if he wins the George Moore Stakes.

"I've won a Group Three race before when Poetic Papal beat Takeover Target in the Carlton Draught Stakes at Eagle Farm four years ago," Kelly said.

"I think he's (Eire Of Magic) got a great chance and will be hard to beat again.

"His last run was super. He was on the worst part of the track on the inside and there was a fast lane down the outside."

Eire Of Magic's performance last start did not surprise Kelly who had the son of Eire wound up for a strong performance at his first start since finishing a respectable fifth to Battlefield in the Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton in July.

"He was wound up for his first-up run but he's improved at least a length since then," Kelly said.

"He's come through his last run well and he's got a good second-up record."

Eire Of Magic has started five times second-up for two wins and as many placings.

Kelly rates topweight The Jackal as the main danger following the Tamworth seven-year-old's barnstorming finish for sixth, only a length behind Black Prince at Eagle Farm.

"I thought The Jackal's run against us last time was the best run in the race and he looks the danger," Kelly said.

"It looks a strong race again but it's more or less the same sort of field as last time."

Eire Of Magic has one statistic strongly in his favour having started at Doomben twice for a win and a second while The Jackal has been placed once in five attempts at the track.

Paul Hammersley has retained the ride on Eire Of Magic while Robert Thompson will again partner The Jackal.