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While most eyes will be focused on the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast this month, Toowoomba’s father and daughter training partnership of Tony and Maddysen Sears plan to head across the ditch with Beau Dazzler for $1 million Karaka Millions at Ellerslie on January 27.
Team Sears is hopeful Beau Dazzler, a brilliant last start winner in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Eagle Farm last month, can book his ticket to Ellerslie in the Aquis Gold Nugget over 1100 metres.
The Sears partnership ran second with Yellow Brick in last year's Magic Millions Guineas but won't have a runner this year with Steady Ready heading to Magic Millions QTIS race on Saturday week.
Co-trainer Tony Sears hopes to emulate Sunshine Coast trainer Liam Birchley, who claimed the Karaka Millions twice with Sister Havana in 2010 and Hardline in 2015.
Birchley also finished second with Sarge In Charge in 2009.
"He's a pretty good horse and he had 10 days out in the paddock after the Phelan Ready," Sears said.
"He might find 1100 metres a bit short as we think he'll be better over 1200 and 1400 metres later on.
"If he runs well enough and goes to New Zealand the 1200 metres is going to suit him perfectly."
Jockey Robbie Dolan has retained he ride on Beau Dazzler at the Gold Coast and is a possibility of riding him in the Karaka Millions,.
"We haven't booked a rider yet for New Zealand but Robbie is obviously a chance to go over for the ride," Sears said.
Beau Dazzler was offered by Mapperley Stud at last year's Karaka sales and was knocked down for $NZ85,000 to Paul Moroney Bloodstock.
New Zealand-born Sears was a former jockey and started an apprenticeship with former top Kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh.
He came to Australia with the Marsh-trained Shamrock who won the Group 3 Prime Minister's Cup at the Gold Coast in 1981 and ended up staying.
"I was a failure as a jockey but I managed to get by," Sears said.
"I started my apprenticeship with Bruce (Marsh) and went to Hawera with Herb Bergerson and went back to finish my apprenticeship with Bruce before I came here to live.
"I rode for about 10 years around the country tracks in Queensland and won three Gympie premierships but I wasn't very good."
Beau Dazzler became the first Australian Stakes winner for New Zealand sire Adrossan when he claimed the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes.
Adrossan is making his mark on the breeding scene and is a brother to former Queenslander and triple Group 1 winner Incentivise.
