Kiwi star Grail Seeker arrives in Sydney for Group 1 All Aged Stakes hit-and-run mission

Grail Seeker has been sent across the Tasman for the first time as O’Sullivan and Scott look to take advantage of Sydney’s riches late in the autumn carnival.

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The smart daughter of Iffraaj is already a two-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand this season and will go head-to-head with some of Australia’s brightest sprint stars in the 1400m test.

“We want to give her a chance, she has won at the highest level in New Zealand so we have to try give her an opportunity to get some black type in Australia,” O’Sullivan said.

“We have probably picked a pretty tough one to have a crack at and we contemplated going to Brisbane with her, but decided to go to this and then get her home to get ready for the spring.”

O’Sullivan and Scott have enlisted the services of another Kiwi to pilot Grail Seeker ($34) with Australian-based hoop Jason Collett set to ride.

Grail Seeker has already won twice at the top level in New Zealand this season with victories in both the Tarzino Trophy last September at Hastings and in January’s Telegraph Handicap at Trenton.

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She was unable to replicate those runs in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa, which saw Australian duo Here To Shock and Bosustow run the quinella.

“Her last run wasn’t up to her prior runs but she has had a bit of a freshen since and a quiet barrier trial so she looks like she is going there in pretty good form,” O’Sullivan said.

“I think she just ran an average race, we weren’t looking to find any excuses. She was just disappointing.

“The run the start before probably took more out of her than we thought.”

O’Sullivan will more than likely return to New Zealand following her maiden Australian Group 1 tilt.

Fellow Kiwi Crocetti was among the nominations for the All Aged Stakes but headed over to Western Australia to contest the $5m Quokka.

The final field for Saturday’s All Aged Stakes will be revealed on Wednesday morning with TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa ($3.50) set to be the horse to beat.

Last year’s victor Magic Time will get the chance to become the second horse this century to win the All Aged Stakes twice while the likes of Broadsiding, Jimmysstar, Kimochi and Antino are also expected to line up.

Boom filly Autumn Glow was removed from markets for both the All Aged Stakes and Group 3 $250,000 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).

A decision was made to give the Chris Waller-trained filly a short spell before beginning to prepare for the spring carnival.

Originally published as Kiwi star Grail Seeker arrives in Sydney for Group 1 All Aged Stakes hit-and-run mission