Hunter-based syndicators Australian Bloodstock are eyeing the group 1 Tancred Stakes and a potential shot at the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Mustajeer after his impressive return victory in the listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
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The seven-year-old import had not raced or trialled since finishing second last in the Melbourne Cup on November 5 after a tough run three wide.
Prone to getting worked up pre-race, Mustajeer was more settled on Saturday.
He sat midfield for Hugh Bowman before bursting to the lead at the 300m mark and putting almost three lengths on his rivals. The Chris Waller-trained Eastender challenged but Mustajeer held on by a long neck.
Australian Bloodstock director Luke Murrell said the Kris Lees stable's hard work at Newcastle had paid off.
"When we inherited him, the mail was that he was a nervous horse," Murrell said.
"He was easy to do anything with, but on race day he got too excitable.
"I know Cameren [Swan] has done a heap of work with him, and all of them down there have gone above and beyond and it showed yesterday. He didn't sweat anywhere near as much as he normally does."
He said connections were now eyeing weight-for-age targets like the March 28 Tancred Stakes (2400m) and April 11 Queen Elizabeth (2000m) rather than two-mile races.
"There's the strong possibility we keep him fresh at 2000 and go for a Queen Elizabeth," he said.
"And the new $1.5 million dollar race in Brisbane [over 2200m] is not beyond him."
Stablemate Red Cardinal, which was also resuming, came from last to finish third in the Parramatta Cup. The pair could next start in the group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) on March 14 at Rosehill.
"We probably didn't expect him to do that but it's obviously no surprise, he has been bought for weight-for-age racing," Bowman told AAP after Mustajeer's win.
"He certainly raced well in the spring in the Caulfield Cup, didn't seem at his best in the Melbourne Cup, but he's certainly a more furnished horse now mentally."
Lees was also thrilled.
"He had nothing to take him into the race so he had to do it all himself from the 600," Lees told AAP.
"He was probably entitled to get a little tired late. It was really pleasing to see him track into a race over this distance like that. He's had no trials, a few nice gallops at home so it's very pleasing."
Another Lees-Australian Bloodstock import on the comeback trail, Danceteria, is set to resume on Saturday in the group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Danceteria finished last in October's Cox Plate at his most recent start, which was his first in Australia.
Lower Belford trainer Todd Howlett was a winner at Rosehill with Two Big Fari, which heads to the Country Championships qualifier at Tamworth on March 8.
Two Big Fari raced outside the leader throughout and fought back late to beat Schappose by a long head in the 1400m class 3 Highway Handicap.
"I was hoping we'd get that result and now we can go to the heat," Howlett told AAP.
"He's a big, raw fellow. He still doesn't know what he's doing yet. There is a lot of improvement in him."
On Sunday, Newcastle apprentice Sammie Clenton rode the Jenny Graham-trained Magnalane to victory in the Mid North Coast Country Championships qualifier at Taree.