Vic trainer has Sydney plans for NZ colt

Mornington trainer Tony Noonan holds high hopes for Hawkesbury barrier trial winner Manolo Blahniq.

The Victorian trainer has the two-year-old son of Jimmy Choux geared towards the early Sydney three-year-old races.

And if his form warrants it, the Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill on September will be his first spring target.

Noonan bought Manolo Blahniq as a yearling but left him in New Zealand for his early two-year-old racing.

He had three starts for Craig Thornton, winning in Group Three company at his second outing before starting favourite in the Karaka Million at Trentham in January, finishing 10th.

"The track was a little firm for him and he was a little shin sore after it," Noonan said.

"We had a reasonable excuse that day but he raced below expectations."

The lack of suitable grass gallops and trials prompted Noonan to look north to Sydney and the colt is stabled at Warwick Farm with Todd Rawiller.

Rawiller took a team to Hawkesbury to trial and Manolo Blahniq tagged along, winning a 760m heat on Monday by a half-head.

Noonan says Manolo Blahniq will have another trial before he is ready for his Australian debut and is likely to have two runs in the lead-up to the Golden Rose.