Winslow export Ciaron Maher is weighing up the possibilities of jetting his versatile galloper Big Blue to England for feature jumps races.
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Maher, who won this year's Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool's May Racing Carnival with Big Blue, was happy with the eight-year-old's third-place behind Shared Ambition in a $135,000 flat race at Flemington on Tuesday.
The four-time Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase-winning trainer is considering running Big Blue in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Jumps Festival in March.
"I'm seriously thinking of sending him over to England," Maher said.
"I've got a big opinion of Big Blue's jumping ability. I rate him up there with my former champion jumper Bashboy.
"He's had four hurdle starts for three wins and one of those wins was in the Galleywood. I would love to run him in the World Hurdle.
"He would have to have a couple of jumps starts at either Ascot or Cheltenham before the World Hurdle. The Cheltenham Jumps Festival is a massive four-day jumps carnival.
"It would be great to run Big Blue against the best jumpers in the world."
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Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said he would meet with Big Blue's owners over the next few days regarding the proposed overseas trip.
"We've got a few things to work out if we're to make the trip," he said.
"There's things like quarantine to be considered, if we don't make the trip we'll look at running him in the Galleywood again next year."
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