The Murray family is preparing for a huge day on February 28 when Coniston Bluebird runs in the New Zealand Derby and Predatory Pricer begins his AJC Australian Derby campaign in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.Coniston Bluebird showed he was on track for the Group One race at Ellerslie with an eye-catching third to Down The Road in Saturday's Group Two Championship Stakes at the same venue.The Bede Murray-trained gelding is now a $7 chance on the NZ TAB for the 2400 metre race.Coniston Blueb

The Murray family is preparing for a huge day on February 28 when Coniston Bluebird runs in the New Zealand Derby and Predatory Pricer begins his AJC Australian Derby campaign in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.

Coniston Bluebird showed he was on track for the Group One race at Ellerslie with an eye-catching third to Down The Road in Saturday's Group Two Championship Stakes at the same venue.

The Bede Murray-trained gelding is now a $7 chance on the NZ TAB for the 2400 metre race.

Coniston Bluebird is by Scenic, sire of Melbourne Cup winner Viewed and Universal Prince who Murray trained to win the 2001 AJC Australian Derby.

Murray's son Paul trains stakes winner Predatory Pricer, a half brother to international sprint champion Takeover Target.

And it's a bigger, stronger and more seasoned Predatory Pricer that is ready to go for the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

Predatory Pricer has been working impressively at Kembla Grange on the NSW South Coast ahead of his resumption.

Murray said everything was spot-on with the Street Cry colt who has not race since finishing second to Sousa in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick in October.

"Mentally and physically he's so much better, he's so much bigger and stronger and his work has been outstanding," Murray said.

"We gave him a jumpout over 1200 metres at Kembla last week and he's looking very good."

Predatory Pricer has a busy autumn ahead with the Randwick Guineas (1600m), the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and the 2400m AJC Australian Derby on April 11 all on the hit list.

Prior to his Spring Champion Stakes second, Predatory Pricer won the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) after charging home to beat Caymans by a long head in the Listed Ming Dynasty (1400m).

Regular jockey Glyn Schofield has given up the mount on Coniston Bluebird in the New Zealand Derby to ride Predatory Pricer in the Hobartville, with Scott Seamer, who rode him in the Championship Stakes, booked for the Derby.

"He's flying in his work and has developed so impressively," Schofield said of Predatory Pricer.

"He was already a top horse but he's back stronger and will be even better this preparation, Paul's doing a great job with the horse."

The Group One Randwick Guineas is on March 14 with the Rosehill Guineas two weeks later.