Trainer Liam Birchley is eyeing his first international runner after flashy juvenile Sarge in Charge trounced his rivals at Eagle Farm to earn a trip to New Zealand.Birchley confirmed after Friday's Heineken Handicap (1000m) that Sarge in Charge would have his next start in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 25 providing he pulled up in good order.A $110,000 yearling purchase at the Karaka Sales, Sarge in Charge showed maturity beyond his years when he relaxed beautifully beh

Trainer Liam Birchley is eyeing his first international runner after flashy juvenile Sarge in Charge trounced his rivals at Eagle Farm to earn a trip to New Zealand.

Birchley confirmed after Friday's Heineken Handicap (1000m) that Sarge in Charge would have his next start in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 25 providing he pulled up in good order.

A $110,000 yearling purchase at the Karaka Sales, Sarge in Charge showed maturity beyond his years when he relaxed beautifully behind the speed for jockey Shane Scriven and sprinted quickly when asked for an effort in the straight.

A flashy chestnut with a white blaze, Sarge in Charge is by Golan, sire of last year's Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz, and Birchley said the horse had been a surprise from the day he was broken in.

"I've never had a horse by Golan before but he caught my eye at the sales and I bought him as a staying type," Birchley said.

"Golan is usually a sire of stayers but this bloke has always been a very precocious horse and he's got plenty of ability.

"He'll head straight to New Zealand providing he comes through this race well and pulls up in good shape."

Sarge in Charge ($3.60 fav) went to the line untouched to score by three-quarters of a length with Motown Lady ($6.50) finishing on gamely to claim second and pacemaker Big Tony ($5.50) a length and a quarter back in third.

Scriven gave Birchley a glowing report and said Sarge in Charge would take a lot of benefit out of the win.

"He relaxed nicely and came back under me when I asked him to take the sit early," Scriven said.

"It was a good effort. He impressed me and he'll be better off with that experience under his belt."

Birchley said he had not confirmed travel arrangements to get Sarge in Charge to New Zealand but was hopeful the horse could catch the return flight on the plane that flies New Zealand's Magic Millions' yearlings to Brisbane.

"That would be perfect because it means I wouldn't have to float him to Sydney or Melbourne first to get on a plane," Birchley said.

"Karaka contacted me a couple of weeks ago and said it was a definite possibility so I'm hopeful that's still the case."