Rosehill winner Sacred Star could have earned himself a tilt at a Group One race in New Zealand with his victory on Saturday.
Trainer Chris Waller said the Levin Classic (1600m) on November 30 was under consideration for the three-year-old who fought back after being challenged by Magniloquent to win the Startrack Handicap (1900m) by a long neck.
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But if he crosses the Tasman it is not certain Waller will be the designated trainer.
“He may race over there under Tony Pike’s name,” Waller said.
“There is a reciprocal arrangement with the owners, the Raffles Syndicate, that I train horses here and Tony trains them over there.
“I’ll talk things over with the owners. They have to pay a late entry fee to put him in the race.”
Pike celebrated his first Group One success last week when Sacred Falls won the Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton.
Sacred Star was sent out at $5.50 with Magniloquent at $21.
Third-placed Pop Street ($16) finished 1-1/2 lengths behind the runner-up with favourite Al Dragon ($2.25), a stablemate to the winner, sixth of the seven runners.
Waller said going back to the 1600m of the Levin Classic would be ideal.
“After a run over 1900 metres and the trip over there, I think the 1600 would suit,” he said.
“I have been wanting to get him up in distance and he outstayed them.”
“(Jockey) Jim Cassidy got serious on him at the end and he responded.”
It was the second win from seven starts for Sacred Star who fetched $90,000 as a weanling and was sold again as a yearling for $200,000.
