Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell has lofty ambitions for European imports Dhaafer and Val Mondo.
Dhaafer, who is already in his stable, will be aimed at the Grand Annual Steeplechase while Val Mondo, who touches down next month, has the Melbourne Cup as his aim.
Purcell is keen to get five-year-old Dhaafer ready for the $250,000 Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool on May 3.
Dhaafer has won one of his 11 English jumps starts and with a rating of 120, he is qualified to run in the Grand Annual.
“He’s a straightforward sort of horse who has slotted into the system well,” Purcell said.
“He had been ticking over for quite a while before he came to me but it took a month to get him out here.
“He’s on target for the Annual and we would like to run him in the Grand National Steeple as well.”
The $250,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) is run at Sandown on July 29.
Val Mondo is the winner of the 2010 Group Three German St Leger (2800m) which qualifies him for the $6 million Melbourne Cup.
He has had his past six starts over jumps for English trainer Venetia Williams but was racing well on the flat up till last May.
He finished third in the Group Two Gerling-Preis (2400m) at Cologne two starts before finishing fifth of eight in a 2400m Group Two event won by last year’s Melbourne Cup third placegetter Lucas Cranach.
“These horses that can be competitive on the flat and are hard to find,” Purcell said.
“His jumps form was indifferent in England. He’s run a second and a third and was looming up to win but he’s not a big horse and under big weights he wasn’t able to finish it off.
“He’s educated and not too old and he’s definitely here to win a good flat race.
“Whether that is a Ballarat Cup, Warrnambool Cup or a 3000 metre race at Moonee Valley, I’m not sure what his level will be here.
“But being a multi-purpose type of horse we can jump him later on.”
Purcell sent 2008 Warrnambool Grand Annual winner Ginolad to England to be prepared by Williams who has been training Val Mondo for the past seven months.
