Kiwi trainer Roger James' numbers might be down for this year's winter carnival but he still hopes to play a role with his only visitor, Firebolt.Firebolt earned a trip across the Tasman for Saturday's Group Three Chairman's Handicap (2020m) at Doomben following his last start win over 1600 metre at Te Rapa on April 30.James has been a regular visitor to Brisbane with his biggest success the Group One Queensland Oaks with Giovanna in 2000.However, James' team in New Zealand is down to 25 in work

Kiwi trainer Roger James' numbers might be down for this year's winter carnival but he still hopes to play a role with his only visitor, Firebolt.

Firebolt earned a trip across the Tasman for Saturday's Group Three Chairman's Handicap (2020m) at Doomben following his last start win over 1600 metre at Te Rapa on April 30.

James has been a regular visitor to Brisbane with his biggest success the Group One Queensland Oaks with Giovanna in 2000.

However, James' team in New Zealand is down to 25 in work and the quality isn't there to warrant sending a larger contingent to Brisbane.

He had hoped to send The Party Stand over for the Group One Doomben Cup on May 21 but the mare has been ruled out of the winter with a tendon injury.

The four-year-old won the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 12 before a last start fourth to Veyron in the Group One Easter Handicap (1600m) on the same track on April 16.

"I've only got about 25 in work and I normally bring a few more over each winter," James said.

"But it's not the first time as there was a year or two when I didn't send any horses over."

Firebolt made the trek to Brisbane for the first time last winter winning twice from four starts before heading to Sydney on an Epsom Handicap campaign in October.

The son of Stravinsky made a huge impression on Sydney racegoers with a brilliant win in the Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in September.

However, he could not repeat the effort when he faded to finish 11th to Captain Sonador in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

"It was a stunning win in the Shannon," James said.

"He sat three and four wide the entire trip and still ran good time.

"In the Epsom, he drew wide and had to go forward.

"They ran something like 35 seconds for the first 600 metres and he was still there at the 100 metres.

"He was entitled knock up in the Epsom."

James extended the five-year-old's campaign to Melbourne following the Epsom but he failed to repeat the deeds of Brisbane and Sydney.

"He only had two runs in Melbourne and his form was disappointing," he said.

James has yet to map out a winter program for Firebolt who is among the 18 first acceptors for the Group One Doomben Cup (2020m) on Saturday week.

"I haven't decided on anything yet with him and I'll wait until after he runs on Saturday," James said.

The Doomben Cup is shaping as a repeat of the Group Two Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast with the first five horses, My Kingdom Of Fife, Glass Harmonium, Scenic Shot, Heart of Dreams and Shoot Out among the feature's first acceptors.