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Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is checking out quarantine rules as he considers a New Zealand trip for last Saturday's Sandown winner Captain Bax.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Horses travelling to New Zealand must currently serve a total of five weeks quarantine due to the strict precautions set in place by NZ authorities in the wake of last year's equine flu catastrophe in Australia.
New Zealand remains the only major racing nation to have never been struck by EI but authorities have indicated an easing of the quarantine restrictions in the near future.
Lees said if the quarantine time was reduced it would make a trip across the Tasman for New Zealand's million dollar Group One sprints in Auckland and Wellington in January a more attractive proposition.
The G1 Railway Stakes (1200m) will be run at Ellerslie on January 1 and the G1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on January 17.
Lees, who enjoyed a great spring carnival thanks to his champion filly Samantha Miss and a strong support team of horses, has never had a runner in New Zealand.
Captain Bax added to the carnival haul when he won the Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown last Saturday under weight-for-age conditions.
Lees admits Captain Bax may not be a Group One horse in Australia but believes he would suited at that level in New Zealand.
"It will just depend on what we are required to do with the horse before he can run in New Zealand,” Lees said.
"He is back from Melbourne and got through the trip without a problem."
Lees had 11 starters at the Melbourne carnival for two wins, two seconds, two thirds and two fourths and more than $1 million in prizemoney, Samantha Miss contributing the bulk with her Oaks win and third in the Cox Plate.
