Underrated stayer Fantastic Blue may have earned himself an interstate trip for the Group Three Newcastle Cup following his commanding win at Doomben.Fantastic Blue, ridden by reigning champion Chris Munce, had too much class for his opposition, downing Warrior Within by two lengths in Saturday's Liftronic - Elevators & Escalators Handicap (2200m).Drumshanbo was only a nose away third.Veteran trainer Paul Nolan has never ventured further south than Lismore with a horse during his long career and

Underrated stayer Fantastic Blue may have earned himself an interstate trip for the Group Three Newcastle Cup following his commanding win at Doomben.

Fantastic Blue, ridden by reigning champion Chris Munce, had too much class for his opposition, downing Warrior Within by two lengths in Saturday's Liftronic - Elevators & Escalators Handicap (2200m).

Drumshanbo was only a nose away third.

Veteran trainer Paul Nolan has never ventured further south than Lismore with a horse during his long career and is excited about Fantastic Blue's prospects for the Newcastle Cup (2350m) on September 15.

"The only horse I've taken interstate was Laurie's Folly who won the big $20,000 maiden (at Lismore in 2002)," he said.

"I'll give this bloke another run here in Brisbane in two weeks and if he wins that he'll go down for the Newcastle Cup."

Nolan was keen to talk with Munce immediately after the race to see if Fantastic Blue was worthy of a trip interstate.

"He'll need to take the next step but if he can improve a little the Newcastle Cup isn't beyond him," Munce said.

"It was a good effort to win like he did, especially when he had to break 34 seconds (for the last 600m) to do it.

"He relaxed so well during the race and I knew Glen Colless was following me on Work The Room at the 600 metres waiting to pounce.

"Mathematically he had to run a good final 600 metres to win and he did just that."

Fantastic Blue showed he was a stayer of above-average ability last campaign when he won twice at Doomben in February, giving Nolan hope he could emerge as a genuine winter carnival contender.

Nolan immediately pencilled in a Group Two Brisbane Cup for Fantastic Blue but the then four-year-old ended his autumn campaign with a disappointing seventh in the Listed Toowoomba Cup (2100m) in March.

"I made the mistake of running him on a heavy track at Eagle Farm before he failed in the Toowoomba Cup," Nolan said.

"It killed him andit meant he had to have longer out in the paddock."

Nolan hoped to have Fantastic Blue back in time for last month's Listed Grafton Cup (2300m) but time once again beat him.

Trainer Bruce Hill was delighted with the performance from Grafton Cup winner Warrior Within who will also chase the Newcastle Cup.

"I thought it was a terrific run considering it was his first run in three weeks," Hill said.

Hill is also considering the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 1 with Warrior Within.

The six-year-old will be accompanied to Sydney by stablemate Startsmeup who will be entered for the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on August 20.