Roger James is sweating on almost half the Hawkesbury Guineas entry falling by the wayside to confirm ambitious Australian plans for lightly-raced three-year-old Rasteau.James is desperate for Rasteau to force his way into Saturday's Guineas (1400m) in a bid to cement a Brisbane winter carnival campaign for the colt.From what he has learned so far, James says Rasteau remains only a borderline chance of scraping into the Hawkesbury Guineas field.There are 30 nominations for the Guineas with accep

Roger James is sweating on almost half the Hawkesbury Guineas entry falling by the wayside to confirm ambitious Australian plans for lightly-raced three-year-old Rasteau.

James is desperate for Rasteau to force his way into Saturday's Guineas (1400m) in a bid to cement a Brisbane winter carnival campaign for the colt.

From what he has learned so far, James says Rasteau remains only a borderline chance of scraping into the Hawkesbury Guineas field.

There are 30 nominations for the Guineas with acceptances taken on Thursday morning but the latest flight leaves New Zealand on Wednesday night.

A field of 16 and four emergencies will be declared for the $150,000 Listed race.

"The Queensland Guineas is the race I'm setting him for but he's got to get some money in the kitty to get into the field," James, a regular Australian visitor, said.

"Even though he is lightly raced I do rate him and hopefully I'll know more about him getting a start by Wednesday and I can make a definite decision about putting him on the flight.

"With some of the information I've been able to put together he could be as high as 16th in the order after dropouts."

James has Tulloch Lodge jockey Tommy Berry on standby for the Hawkesbury ride.

Stablemate Firebolt, who is a three-time winner in Australia, is scheduled for the same flight after being nominated for the Rowley Mile.

"I've entered Firebolt but Rasteau is my main reason for coming over," James said.

Rasteau, a colt by leading Australian-based sire Redoute's Choice, has raced just three times for a Te Aroha win and a narrow first-up defeat at the same track on April 9.

He is out of La Sizeranne, a mare James trained to multiple stakes success including the 2006 Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Firebolt landed a plunge at his last Sydney visit with a 3-1/2-length Shannon Stakes win but has finished no closer than eighth in six starts since.