Co-trainer Jamie Richards is hopeful Kiwi raider Heroic Valour can continue the stable's good start to the Brisbane winter carnival in the Gr. 3 Gold Coast Guineas on Saturday.
Richards and fellow Kiwi trainer Steve Autridge teamed up two years ago to head up Te Akau Racing in Matamata and have brought a small team to Queensland for the winter.
The pair started the winter carnival on a strong note when Shocking Luck finished second at Ipswich on Monday.
Shocking Luck is taking the traditional route to the Gr. 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in June via the Rough Habit Plate and Grand Prix Stakes.
Richards said the stable had intentions to run Heroic Valour in next week's Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 and have nominated the colt for the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.
"We were going to run him in the Doomben 10,000 before it was changed so it doesn't suit him now," Richards said.
"In the meantime, he'll stay in his own age group or he can run in the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
"But we want to see how he comes through his Gold Coast Guineas run first."
The Gr.1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) will be run at Doomben on May 27 while the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on June 10.
Richards is on his first trip to Queensland as a trainer and is delighted with Heroic Valour's progress since his last start fourth in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 11.
"He had every chance last run but it was a good run for a three-year-old and it was also the first time he raced at weight-for-age," Richards said.
Heroic Valour has won four of his 10 starts including the Gr. 1 Sistema Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in March last year.
"We had him stabled at Eagle Farm but we decided to bring him to the Gold Coast early because some construction work is still going on there," Richards said.
"He's done enough work to be a show in the Guineas and he trialled well when third in a barrier trial at Hawkesbury last week.
"But it's always hard taking on the Aussies in sprint races."
