Plans to run Group One winner Northern Meteor in England have been cancelled by the colt's owner, Eduardo Cojuangco of Gooree Stud.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse was keen to campaign the colt at Royal Ascot and follow the trail blazed by Australian champions Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Choisir.

Gooree Stud's manager Andrew Baddock confirmed after watching Northern Meteor trial at Randwick on Friday that Cojuangco wanted the horse to remain in Australia.

"England is definitely out of the question now, Mr Cojuangco is not keen, he enjoys racing the horse here and doesn't want to shuttle him to the UK," Baddock said.

Northern Meteor, who defeated Fist Of Fury to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November, is being set to make his return at the Melbourne track over the same distance in the Newmarket Handicap in March.

The three-year-old's autumn campaign has not been mapped out yet but Baddock said it could include the $2 million Doncaster Mile in April.

"We certainly think he could be a Doncaster horse," Baddock said.

Baddock added that a couple of Group One wins could result in Northern Meteor being retired to stud.

"He could become too valuable to race if he wins some major races this autumn so it's a definite possibility, but no matter what happens his future will be discussed after the carnival," Baddock said.

Northern Meteor raced in an 800-metre trial on Friday and finished a head second under a strong hold from Nash Rawiller to Fist Of Fury in a heat run in 46.9 seconds.

Waterhouse was thrilled with the effort.

"He was absolutely brilliant," she said.

"He's still a bit above himself but Nash was so happy with him and said if he gave the horse a couple of backhanders he would have found a couple of lengths.

"We'll give him another trial in a fortnight and that will have him spot-on for the Newmarket."

Baddock was also impressed with the run of Northern Meteor.

"He and Fist Of Fury are the two best sprinting colts in Australia at the moment and they went at it pretty well today and I'm sure that's not the last time you'll see them clash," Braddock said.

Fist Of Fury is also nominated for the Newmarket Handicap on March 7.

Gooree's five-year-old Ashikaga, also trained by Waterhouse, won his 800-metre trial by a nose from Raheeb, the horse who beat him in the Group Three Cameron Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle in September.

"We're very happy with him, he's so much more settled this time in and he's shaping up as a real Doncaster horse," Baddock said.

Baddock was also pleased to see Fight And Defend lead all the way to win his trial in which he scored by 1-3/4 lengths over Sara's Choice.

"He's probably resuming in the Hobartville and then off to the Randwick Guineas," Baddock said.

"He's showing a lot more zip now and looks set for a big campaign."

The Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) is at Rosehill on February 28 while the Randwick Guineas is over 1600m on March 14.