Racing: Filly's long road to Millions

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 is the scenario for the Liam Birchley-trained Sister Havana, who will leave her Brisbane stables on Sunday for the $1 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 1000m 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, who paid $40,000 for the daughter of General Nediym, has also decided on a gear change and will use winkers for the first time on the filly in the Karaka Millions, after consulting jockey Stathi Katsidis who will ride her in the big race.

- AAP