It is a long way from Brisbane to New Zealand for the Karaka Millions at Ellerslie, especially if you have to travel by road first.That's the scenario for the Liam Birchley-trained Sister Havana who will leave her Brisbane stables on Sunday for the $NZ1 million Karaka Millions (1200m) a week later.Birchley is pressing ahead with plans to run Sister Havana in the New Zealand feature despite her finishing only fourth to dead-heaters D'Jet and Starstreamed over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm last Saturd
It is a long way from Brisbane to New Zealand for the Karaka Millions at Ellerslie, especially if you have to travel by road first.
That's the scenario for the Liam Birchley-trained Sister Havana who will leave her Brisbane stables on Sunday for the $NZ1 million Karaka Millions (1200m) a week later.
Birchley is pressing ahead with plans to run Sister Havana in the New Zealand feature despite her finishing only fourth to dead-heaters D'Jet and Starstreamed over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
"There's no flight out of Brisbane to New Zealand on the weekend so she'll leave the stables on Sunday and go by float to Sydney where she'll get on a plane for New Zealand on Monday," Birchley said.
Birchley wasn't worried by the filly's last start defeat and was encouraged to push on with the New Zealand trip by jockey Stathi Katsidis who will ride her in the Karaka Millions.
Birchley has also decided on a gear change and will use winkers for the first time on the filly in the Karaka Millions.
"I wasn't disappointed with Saturday's run considering she missed the start slightly and couldn't get out at a vital stage in the straight," Birchley said.
"Stathi also thought it was a good run and he thinks she wants 1200 metres.
"I asked Stathi about putting winkers or blinkers on her next time as she looked a little timid.
"Stathi said they wouldn't hurt but it was my call so I'll use winkers on her in New Zealand."
Birchley paid $NZ40,000 for the daughter of General Nediym and will be hoping for better luck in this year's Karaka Millions, which is restricted to horses sold as yearlings at the Karaka sales last year.
Birchley was unsuccessful with his first attempt to win the feature race when Sarge In Charge was runner-up to The Heckler 12 months ago.
"I thought Sarge In Charge should have won it last year," Birchley said.
Sarge In Charge was ridden by Hayden Tinsley but Birchley feels more confident taking his own rider with him across the Tasman.
Sister Havana has started three times, highlighted by her first-up win over 1030 metres at Doomben on January 2 when she scored by almost four lengths.
At her only prior outing, Sister Havana finished seventh when Birchley took her to Sydney for her debut in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in October last year.