Monarch Chimes for Australian Hurdle

New Zealand jumper Monarch Chimes will be be prepared for a return to Victoria for the Australian Hurdle.

The winner of a 3200m-steeplechase at Pakenham in April, Monarch Chimes was placed in the Brierly Steeple and fourth in the Grand Annual during the Warrnambool May carnival.

He has since run third on the Flat at Avondale and won Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m).

“We haven’t made a firm decision, but it’s very much looking like he will go to Victoria again,” Emma-Lee Browne, who trains with her husband David, told NZ Racing Desk.

“We’re looking at the Australian Hurdle at Sandown. We’ve spoken to a lot of people and they all think he’ll be suited to it.

“It’s worth a lot of money and you don’t get to run for that every day.”

Australian prize money is also a factor for Monarch Chimes’ stablemate and last-start Te Teko winner Mofara who has been entered for a 1400m-Benchmark 70 race at Randwick on Saturday.

“It might seem odd to go for a Rating 70 race, but it’s worth $A100,000,” Browne said.

“We think a lot of him and he’s working brilliantly. There’s also the option to back him up a week later in another $100,000 race if he goes OK.

“Travelling does them no harm and he’ll come back a more rounded horse. It’s worth a shot.”