Kiwi star Sir Slick arrives in Victoria this week to begin a long preparation for the $3 million W,.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.
Sir Slick is going to a property on the Mornington Peninsula after completing his required quarantine at Eastern Creek in NSW following his first international foray to Hong Kong and Singapore.
Sir Slick, a five-time Group One winner in New Zealand, took on top international filds in the QE II Cup at Sha Tin and Singapore International Cup where his efforst didn't disappoint his co-trainer and part-owner Graeme Nicholson.
He was fifth behind another Cox Plate contender Jay Peg in at Kranji on May 18 after running XXX at Sha Tin.
Sir Slick will be based at the property of former Kiwi Barbara Flynn opposite Mornington racecourse.
"I haven't been to Mornington, but John Wheeler arranged the stabling for me," Nicholson said.
Nicholson's trainer partner Paul Allbon will take charge of Sir Slick in Sydney today and travel with the gelding to Mornington.
"I'll be going over quite regularly,” Nicholson said.
"The plan is to give him a fortnight or more in a paddock.
"He'll need it after being boxed up in quarantine for so long.
"He was 514 kilos when he left Singapore and 496 kilos in Sydney.”
Nicholson plans to put Sir Slick into work in early July but hasn't set his early spring program although the Liston Stakes Memsie Stakes and Craiglee Stakes could be early targets.
"There are plenty of options over there for him," said Nicholson.
"I'll just see how he comes up."
