New Zealand jumper Rand will have to overcome an arduous travelling schedule when he makes his North American debut in the $US175,000 ($431,000) Royal Chase (4000m) at Keeneland in Kentucky on Saturday.
The Manawatu-trained galloper, who has been campaigning in Japan, arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday. After quarantine, he faces a flight to Keeneland tomorrow.
Trainer Mark Oulaghan said his partner Penny Armstrong, who is travelling with Rand, had reported that he had taken the trip to Los Angeles in his stride.
"He apparently travelled very well and is very settled. He's eating and drinking, which is always a good sign," Oulaghan said.
Rand, who suffered his first jumping defeat when brought down in the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan, is one of 13 entries for Saturday's feature race, the richest jumping race in North America.
Other entries in the star-studded line-up include the well performed All Gong, Al Skywalker, Electron and Pompeyo.
Al Skywalker (winner of the Carolina Cup) and Electron (Atlanta Cup) were upset winners of the two group one steeplechases run in North America this year and All Gong, the champion steeplechaser last year, will be out to avenge his half-length defeat by Electron in the Atlanta Cup on April 14.
Pompeyo won the first two legs of last year's triple crown for steeplechasers and has won his only start over fences this year - a novice race on March 31.
Campanile, who ran fifth in the Nakayama Grand Jump, is also entered. He ran third in last year's Royal Chase, which is being run for only the fourth time.
Oulaghan and Rand's regular rider Eddie Lamb are due to fly to the United States tomorrow.
All going well, Rand will stay in North America to tackle the $US100,000 Iroquois Steeplechase (4800m) in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 12.
Oulaghan said Rand would then go into quarantine before returning home, hopefully directly to Auckland when he would probably be spelled.
Oulaghan will explore the possibility of other US campaigns.
"They have a good novice series, with five races worth $US100,000. If you had a promising horse, it is something you could look at."
The New Zealand TAB is looking at the possibility of obtaining live coverage of the race.
- NZPA
Racing: Rand to tackle America's top jumpers
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