Co-trainers Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston believe novice fencer Tarawera is a worthy contender in Saturday's The Australian Steeplechase, but concede that star `chaser Mazzacano will be very hard to beat in the Sandown feature.Houlahan said Tarawera had "underwhelming" form on the flat, but had taken to jumping with zest since joining their stable.The gelding, by Giant's Causeway who sired Thursday's Royal Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) winner Rite Of Passage, won a Scone 1600m maiden from four outin

Co-trainers Fran Houlahan and Brian Johnston believe novice fencer Tarawera is a worthy contender in Saturday's The Australian Steeplechase, but concede that star `chaser Mazzacano will be very hard to beat in the Sandown feature.

Houlahan said Tarawera had "underwhelming" form on the flat, but had taken to jumping with zest since joining their stable.

The gelding, by Giant's Causeway who sired Thursday's Royal Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) winner Rite Of Passage, won a Scone 1600m maiden from four outings for previous trainer Paul Messara.

There were few suitable races for Tarawera and Messara suggested to owner Tony Hodgson that he might be better suited over the jumps.

The rising five-year-old, described by Houlahan as a "likely type", has had five jumps starts for two wins, in a Warrnambool maiden hurdle (3200m) in May and at his latest start when making his steeplechasing debut over 3300m at Sandown on June 2.

"The horse was very dogged in his determination and he just kept coming and coming last time and I think the 3900 metres (of The Australian Steeple) is going to suit him," Houlahan said.

Houlahan said the step up in class could not be avoided, given the uncertainty of jumps racing going ahead in Victoria beyond this season.

"I'm sure he will continue to get better, but we might be running out of time. I don't think we have a lot of choice," she said.

"He's shown he's worth putting in the race, but Mazzacano at the weights looks a handicapping certainty if he brings his A-game to the track.

"A horse of that quality and experience is obviously going to be very hard to beat.

"But I do know that we can't win if we stay home so we'll go and have a crack."

Mazzacano, shooting for a record third Australian Steeple success, drops 0.5kg to 69kg on his winning weight last year.

Great Southern Steeple winner Virvacity has 65.5kg with Tarawera and the other six runners on the limit weight of 64kg.

Meanwhile, Houlahan and her husband Johnston are considering taking a team of jumpers to England in January.

"We're thinking about it at this stage. Jumps racing is our passion and it would be a nice thing to do," Houlahan said.

The couple prepared last season's Jumper of the Year Pentiffic, who had to be scratched from the 2010 Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan due to tendon trouble in the week of the race and who is now in England with trainer Venetia Williams.

Pentiffic was sent out favourite for last year's Australian Hurdle but blundered at the third last jump, catapulting jockey Craig Durden out of the saddle.

Later in the season, Pentiffic went on to claim the Hiskens Steeplechase, the Crisp Steeple and the Grand National Steeple.