Trainer Paul Duncan, who has won multiple Group One races in New Zealand, hopes to pick up his first black-type race in Australia at Doomben.
Duncan moved to Queensland about three years ago and is one of a growing number of trainers from New Zealand and interstate to relocate to the Sunshine Coast.
He will saddle up the well-travelled Blue Lion who is looking to make it three wins in a row in the Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Doomben.
A $250,000 yearling in New Zealand, Blue Lion did his early racing in Victoria and NSW for Hawkes Racing before being sent to Singapore where he won three races.
The seven-year-old gelding was returned to Australia into Duncan’s care in May and he has won his past two starts.
Duncan said Blue Lion was like a lot of horses by champion sire Zabeel and seemed to be getting better with age.
“He is a lovely horse and he has really pleased me since his last-start win at Doomben. I think he is well in at the weights on Saturday and the 1600 metres should suit him,” Duncan said.
Blue Lion is raced by a syndicate headed by Greg Ingham who has sent several horses to Duncan.
“It has taken time to get things right since I moved here. But we have 20 horses now and some of them are very nice three-year-olds.
“Also I have been lucky enough to get some very good owners who have given us time,” he said.
Duncan has won more than a dozen stakes races in New Zealand including Group One victories in the the New Zealand Oaks (Midnight Oil), Wellington Cup (Oarsman), the Thorndon Mile (Say No More) and Thoroughbred Breeders (Say No More).
He first visited Queensland in 2005 with a small team but it wasn’t until late 2012 he made the move to the Sunshine Coast.
Last season’s leading apprentice Luke Tarrant has retained the ride on Blue Lion.
