Matt Hoysted considering New Zealand plans for Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon mission

Matt Hoysted may head overseas with Uncommon James for a pair of Group 1 races but the Oakleigh Plate winner will need to show his form warrants the trip.

Uncommon James is poised to target a pair of Group 1s across the ditch in New Zealand if the elite sprinter can get back to near his brilliant best at the start of the Queensland summer carnival.

The 2023 Oakleigh Plate winner, who didn’t fire in two runs in the Queensland winter, is set to have a jumpout next week as trainer Matt Hoysted prepares him for a couple of sprints in the Queensland summer.

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It will be a fork in the road moment when Uncommon James contests the Swiss Ace Open (1000m) on the Sunshine Coast next month followed by the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.

If Uncommon James shows he still has the zest to be a high-quality racehorse, Hoysted is set to deploy him in New Zealand.

Uncommon James could be headed overseas for the Group 1 pairing of the Railway Handicap and Telegraph Handicap in January.

There is a prizemoney bonus attached to those races with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and corporate bookmaker Entain kicking in the extra bucks.

The George Moore Stakes is one of the qualifying races in the bonus series, in a bid to attract more Australian horses to compete in New Zealand’s major sprint races over the summer.

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Matt Hoysted with Uncommon James after scoring the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate last year. Picture: Getty Images

“Funnily enough, going to New Zealand with Uncommon James was something that I looked into after his first trip down to Melbourne after he won the Regal Roller Stakes (at Caulfield in 2022),” Hoysted said.

“I did a bit of research, but the prizemoney wasn’t good enough at the time.

“So we put our eggs in the Oakleigh Plate basket and we got the job done there.

“The fork in the road run this summer will be the George Moore and that will really determine what I do with him.

“We need to make sure his heart is still in it.

“But if he goes well, we might be looking over the ditch.

“Prizemoney has gone up in New Zealand and this bonus series is up for grabs too.”

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Meanwhile, Hoysted will deploy high-quality filly Appin Girl as part of his team racing at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Appin Girl is a Listed winner and Group placed but has not been seen at the races since finishing third in a Group 3 race at Flemington on Oaks day last November.

Appin Girl is rated a $4.60 shot in the BM80 Handicap (1000m).

“She has been off the scene for a while but there has been no injury, just a few little niggling things,” Hoysted said.

“After her trip away to Melbourne last year we thought we would do the right thing by her and give her a good break.

“She couldn’t be going better, she has got a hell of a lot of ability and with time she has really matured and furnished.”

Originally published as Matt Hoysted considering New Zealand plans for Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon mission