Perth trainers Sean and Jake Casey know what it takes to win on the eastern seaboard and are keen to see how their two-year-old Brave Halo measures up.
Unbeaten in three starts at Ascot, Brave Halo is in Melbourne to run in the colts and geldings’ division of the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Sandown on Saturday.
A win, or an unlucky defeat, is likely to see connections pay a $55,000 late entry fee to contest the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on February 25.
A son of Group 1 winning Japanese-bred galloper Brave Smash, Brave Halo created a big impression in his spring campaign, winning his last start before a break by over 5-¼ lengths.
To add some confidence to the Casey father-and-son training team, they secured champion jockey Damien Oliver to partner the two-year-old on Saturday.
Oliver put Brave Halo through his paces at Sandown on Tuesday morning a gallop that impressed travelling co-trainer Jake Casey.
“His work was good, Ollie was happy,” Casey said.
“He had a long prep last time in, but he held up well. All his wins were very impressive, and we’ll have to see how he stacks up over here, but we’re very happy with him.”
Casey said the stable had not ruled out a trip to Sydney for the Golden Slipper should Brave Halo prove up to Melbourne’s best two-year-olds, but that was all dependant on his performances.
The last time Casey was in Melbourne was just shy of two years ago where the stable produced Laverrod to win at Mornington and Caulfield and Dom To Shoot.
Casey said Brave Halo had coped with the travel to Melbourne and settled in well.
“Last time we brought older horses over and he’s only two, but he probably coped with the travel better than the older horses,” Casey said.
“He’s very casual and even being a colt, he’s very well-mannered.”