Trained at Dunsandel by Richard and Julia Aubrey, Alchemy was a last-start winner over 2000m (mobile) at Rangiora on July 4. He was successful over 1950m (mobile) at Addington nine days earlier.
"It is a big test for him. He is up a grade but he has a good draw," Richard Aubrey said.
"He is as bright as a button. He is a very athletic horse and does not take much out of himself."
Aubrey and his father, Albie, of Nelson, bred and race Alchemy, who is by Christian Cullen out of Flyin Flo.
Aubrey trained Flyin Flo for a stable client.
"She was speedy but did not have much substance. She cracked a sesamoid after one start and went to stud," he said.
Aubrey and his father bought the daughter of Smooth Fella and Tuatahi Glo after she had left three foals. She has now left five winners from as many foals to race.
Her first three progeny were Join The Flo, Soky Stallone and Coor's Adios, all winners before being sold to the United States. Soky Stallone won seven races in New Zealand and took a record of 1.51.6 in the US.
"She [Flying Flo] is in foal to Julius Caesar but she is 22 so it is likely her last foal," Aubrey said.
"We got an Elsu colt out of her last year but had to put him down as he had deformed legs."
Shane Walkinshaw has retained the drive on Alchemy. Walkinshaw is now employed by the Leithfield Beach stable of Robbie Holmes.
• David Butt, who has driven 998 winners, has catch drives on Tiz A Secret at Rangiora and Donaldson at Addington tonight.
The 3yr-old filly Tiz A Secret (race 5) ran fourth at her last start at Addington. She won at Ashburton in February when trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Terry Chmiel. She was transferred to Bryan Lilley when Brent shifted to Melbourne.
The 2yr-old Donaldson (race 9) has been placed in his last five starts.
It would be fitting if Butt brought up his 1000th win on a trotter. He has been associated with the major trotting winners Call Me Now, Stig, Above The Stars and Enthusiast.
• Awesome Armbro won in 1.49.8 at Mohawk Raceway last Saturday two weeks after undergoing surgery for the removal of a bone chip.
"He had a small bone chip removed from his fetlock after his previous start," said John Curtin, who negotiated the sale of Awesome Armbro to Warren Waxman, of Canada.
Awesome Armbro, trained by Waxman's son, Isaac, has won twice in four starts in Canada.
Waxman has bought Meredith Maguire, the 3yr-old filly who won the Sires' Stakes Championship at Alexandra Park in December, when trained by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne.
The owners of Auckland Reactor are considering an offer from a New Zealand stud, Curtin, the manager of the syndicate, said.
Auckland Reactor, who has performed below his best in three starts in the US, has not adapted to the heat there. He has been spelling since his last start on June 14. The rising 6yr-old Mach Three entire has been fertility tested.
• Future Fire has won three of her five starts and taken a record of 1.51 since being sold to Canada early last month. The daughter of Courage Under Fire won two races for the Cummings family in New Zealand.
