Former Central Districts galloper Phats is set to remain in Australia following a pleasing placing in his Australian debut at Flemington on Saturday.

The three-year-old son of Embellish won one and placed in four of his 12 starts in New Zealand before trainer Chrissy Bambry elected to test his talent across the Tasman.

He passed with flying colours when running home for third in the Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) and is now set to remain across the Tasman, with Bambry now on the search to find him a Melbourne-based trainer.

“He was super, he had awesome sectionals that last little bit and it was just lucky that we had the faith in him. The bookies didn’t, they had written him off, but we thought he would stay all day and it was a pretty impressive performance to do that from last at Flemington,” Bambry said.

“We had done a similar thing (Australian campaign) with Lord Bouzeron a few years ago and we thought he fitted the bill and that was a suitable race for him, especially for $200,000, it was definitely worth going over.

“He will probably have a couple of more runs over there now. He is probably going to be better suited over there, so we will look for another trainer for him because I am pretty busy with our ones here at home.”

Meanwhile, Bambry is looking forward to heading to Wanganui on Thursday where in-form gelding Opawa Jack will tackle the Carpet Maintenance & Cleaning 1600 to keep him on target for the $100,000 2000m innovation race at Cambridge Synthetic next month.

“There aren’t any suitable races on the synthetic for Opawa Jack because there are no (rating) 75 stayers’ races on the synthetic, so he is just going to be there for a run,” Bambry said.

“He will go to the Cambridge for that 2000m race. He hates a wet track and he has got such a lovely big action that he gets a bit lost on those wet tracks. Last year I sent him up to EventStars for a month during the winter and with those synthetic innovation races it means that he can be in work. He can do that and come back for those spring races once the tracks get better.”

Opawa Jack will be joined in his Thursday contest by stablemate Kingfisher Lad, who will benefit from apprentice jockey Crystal Lindsay’s three kilogram claim.

“Kingfisher Lad has only had the one trial, so Crystal will get a bit of weight off him,” Bambry said. “He does love Wanganui, but it is just to get his fitness up and hopefully get over a bit more ground in the next couple of weeks.”

Bambry will also be represented by Let’s Get Loose in the Manawatu Sound Services Maiden 1600 and debutant Authentic Amani in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden 3YO 1200.

“Let’s Get Loose never gets a good draw but she is in good form, and I think she went really well in her first time over a mile this prep,” Bambry said.

“Authentic Amani is a first starter. She has only had a couple of jumpouts, but to get that raceday experience is invaluable, so it is better that she goes there than a trial.”