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Mike Moroney is looking forward to his next Group One winner after bringing up a half century of major wins in New Zealand last weekend.

The popular trans-Tasman trainer won his 50th G1 race when On The Rocks, trained out of his NZ stable in partnership with Pam Gerard, won the Herbie Dykes Stakes at Te Rapa.

Melbourne-based Moroney, 58, began training in NZ at the age of 22 and was trailblazer for Kiwi trainers making the move to Australia in the 1990s.

Moroney won his first G1 race in NZ in 1985 when Imperial Angel won the NZ 1000 Guineas.

His subsequent majors in Australia include the 2000 Melbourne Cup (Brew, Victoria Derby (Monaco Consul), Blue Diamond Stakes (True Jewel), VRC Oaks (Brazilian Pulse), AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sarrera), Coolmore Classic (Eskimo Queen), Spring Champion Stakes (Monaco Consul), Stradbroke Handicap (Mr Baritone), All Aged Stakes (Tivaci), Doomben Cup (Sarrera), Mackinnon Stakes (Glass Harmonium) and Queensland Oaks (Eskimo Queen).

While Moroney plans to set On The Rocks for a Brisbane winter carnival campaign his immediate focus is on the coming Sydney carnival where he believes he has the opportunity to add more classic wins to his G1 tally.

Moroney is confident Chapada will measure up as a top chance in the Rosehill Guineas and ATC Australian Derby and is planning to switch the 3YO to Sydney after he races in Melbourne on Saturday.

Chapada, placed in the Victoria Derby at Flemington in November, resumes at Flemington on Saturday in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m).

Moroney then plans to send Chapada to Sydney for the $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 9 before the $600,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 23 and $2 million ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 6.

"The two races we think he can win are the Rosehill Guineas and the Derby,” Moroney said.

"We think his best chances are going right-handed so we want him to have that bit of extra practice."

"He is going very well. He spelled ok and he's really blossomed since he has come back.

“He's got stronger and stronger as each week goes on. The more we’ve stepped up his work the better he's got."

Moroney also has hopes of a second Blue Diamond Stakes win with Hawker Hurricane after his promising third in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield last Saturday.

Hawker Hurricane won the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic at his only previous start and will work in blinkers before Moroney decides if he adds the gear in the $1.5 million Blue Diamond on February 23.