The Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Border Leicester (NZ) (Redwood) is aiming to score his first win in Australia, after a trio of runner-up results, when he contests the Jericho Cup Qualifier (3800m) at The Valley on Friday.

“He deserves a win sooner or later,” said Browne, who trains in partnership with his wife Emma-Lee.

“As soon as we get him over more ground, every time he’s run 3000m and beyond, he’s been second every time.”

Browne said he is not concerned by the heavy rain that has been falling in Melbourne in the lead-up to the race.

“I don’t think the rain will bother him,” he said. “When he ran at home at Rotorua, it was a very heavy track that day, very heavy, and he still ran third in an open handicap, so he shouldn’t mind the weather too much.”

Beyond Friday night, Border Leicester will fly the New Zealand flag in the Jericho Cup over the marathon 4600-metre journey at Warrnambool at the end of this month.

The Redwood gelding was purchased by his trainers out of Westbury Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $22,500.