Racing: Werther on trial for Queensland

Werther contests the Valachi Downs Championship Stakes at Ellerslie today. Photo / Race Images

Werther can book himself a flight to Australia with a bold showing at Ellerslie today.

His connections have a trip to Brisbane in mind for the three-year-old, who has to perform up to expectations in the Group Two Valachi Downs Championship Stakes to seal the deal.

"We'll get this weekend out of the way first and then have a chat with the owners," trainer Andrew Campbell said. "If he won or went very close then it would be on the cards. They're only three once ..."

The target race for Werther would be the A$600,000 Group One Queensland Derby at Doomben on June 6 with the A$125,000 Group Three Rough Habit Plate on May 9 and the A$150,000 Group Three Grand Prix Stakes a fortnight later traditional lead-up events.

Werther has won two of his four starts this preparation with a maiden victory at Awapuni and a convincing Rating 65 success at Waipukurau.

The Tavistock gelding returned to the Palmerston North course last time out to make a sound fist of his middle distance debut with a runner-up finish to Exquisite Jewel in the Group Three Manawatu Classic.

"He did well in his first time over ground, but we knew he would stay being out of a Zabeel mare," Campbell said. "He hit the front a bit early and got run down. He's done really well since and our biggest concern would be any rain at Ellerslie as he's a big-striding horse who needs a decent track."

• It would take something pretty special from Exquisite Jewel today to convince Foxton trainer Sue Walsh that her star filly warrants a trip to Brisbane this winter.

"I'm not that keen. They are only running at Doomben this year, not Eagle Farm, and the Queensland Oaks is over 2200m, not 2400m. But I guess it's still a possibility. They are only three once," Walsh said on her way north to Ellerslie on Thursday.

Lucky Unicorn 3-year-old Exquisite Jewel will contest the Valachi Downs Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie, bidding to replicate her last-start win in the Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni last month.

Exquisite Jewel had earlier finished third in the Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham but has given Walsh and her co-trainer Bruce Gregory no indication she was coming to the end of her preparation.

— NZ Racing Desk