Kiwi-bred sprinter Keano was confirmed for the $1 million Telegraph Handicap at Trentham as connections of fellow Melbourne galloper Lucky Secret decided the trip was too taxing.
Trainer Danny O'Brien said as long as Keano safely negotiated a trial at Flemington today, he would fly to Auckland on Sunday to prepare for the group one 1200m sprint next Saturday.
Leith Innes has been booked for the ride, with Keano weighted at 52.5kg.
"We think it's do-able. He'll arrive at Waikato Stud on Monday and we'll base him there, and float him to Trentham on Thursday night," O'Brien said.
"There's a couple of New Zealand connections and he's very well bred; if he can get a group one it'd look great on his CV."
Keano -- a $A450,000 yearling purchase at the Sydney sales -- is by Waikato Stud's sire Pins out of O'Really, a daughter of Centaine and champion mare Courtza.
Among the stallion's owners are Waikato Stud's Garry Chittick and Little Avondale Stud's Sam Williams.
O'Brien declared Keano "the best three-year-old in Australia" a year ago but he's mixed his form since.
Keano has five wins from 14 starts, with his best victory coming in the listed Lightning Handicap (1000m) on a heavy track at Eagle Farm on June 6. He was also group three placed at the Brisbane winter carnival.
He won the Red Tempo Sprint (1000m) at Flemington on December 19 but failed at his last start in the group three Standish Handicap (1200m) on the same track on New Year's Day.
"He missed the start by four lengths and they went slow in front that day," O'Brien said.
"He's not a group one winner and he's still got to step up, but it's a handicap and he's got a light weight."
Keano shortened to $16 on the TAB's fixed odds market when O'Brien confirmed the trip.
But Lucky Secret, the 59kg topweight and previously a $5 favourite, was withdrawn last night when Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil decided the long haul wasn't in the horse's best interests.
"The logistics were just too difficult," Vasil's racing manager Sam Doran said.
"There's a flight then a long float trip and we just didn't want to knock him around. There's some good races in Melbourne for him."
Lucky Secret was to be based at Otaki and Vasil had wanted to gallop his charge soon after arrival in New Zealand.
Doran said there were no fitness issues with Lucky Secret, who would likely be aimed at the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on February 13.
There were 20 horses left in the Telegraph field today, with the Brent Gillovic-trained Wealth Princess a $5.50 favourite ahead of last year's winner Mufhasa ($6), Coup Align ($7) and Sydney-trained Railway Handicap winner A Gold Trail ($8).
