Scone trainer Paul Messara will look to mares Luna Mia and Madame Pauline to carry his Country Championships hopes after selling promising gelding Powertrain to Hong Kong interests.
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Powertrain, a three-year-old, had won four of six starts, including his past three across runs at Newcastle, Scone and Muswellbrook.
Messara confirmed Powertrain, which last raced at Newcastle on December 7, had left his stables this month after being sold.
"He's off to Hong Kong unfortunately," Messara said.
"But he's a gelding and it was a good offer.
"Obviously he'd won very well but he hadn't taken on any massive opposition really, but I thought he was a very progressive horse anyway."
Messara's first crack at the Country Championships qualifiers comes on March 8 at Tamworth and he was looking to Luna Mia and Madame Pauline as hopes.
Four-year-old Luna Mia was a luckless eighth in last year's $1.3 million Kosciuszko (1200m) and Messara said she was set to trial soon.
"I've still got Luna Mia, who arguably could have won the Kosciuszko, but she was held up all the way on the inside," he said of the Country series. "So if she could run the trip, she'd be a chance. I think she will run 1400. The jockeys have always felt that she would.
"I've got another mare I'm trying to get there called Madame Pauline, who has been off the scene for a little bit but has some ability. Fingers crossed, but I think Luna Mia will be my best chance."