French Godolphin duo Aussie-bound

Former Andre Fabre-trained pair Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Beau Ideal (GB) (Exceed and Excel) are being exported to Australia to be prepared by James Cummings.

Godolphin's French representative Lisa-Jane Graffard confirmed that both horses would head to Australia having had minor setbacks during their 3-year-old seasons.

Cascadian won three of his first four starts in France before finishing second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville behind Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}).

Beau Ideal has won twice from six starts and was last seen in the Listed Prix Hampton in June, where he finished seventh. His best career performance was when second in the G3 Prix Texanita at Maisons Laffitte.

All good with Nature Strip

Nature Strip (Nicconi) has stepped out for the first time in public under his new trainer Chris Waller and showed he has lost none of his speed in a morning workout at Moonee Valley.

The boom sprinter, a winner of eight of his 12 starts, has not raced since he was beaten favourite in the G1 Moir S. in September.

He was scratched from the Listed WJ Adams S. on Saturday after a suspension was placed on his previous trainer Darren Weir.

Waller has now taken over and become his fifth trainer in his short career, and Nature Strip dashed through the 800m gallop in 50.4 seconds with his final 400 metres in 23.49s, the fastest of the morning,

Nature Strip has been nominated for Saturday's G3 Rubiton S. at Caulfield.

Fellow ex-Weir galloper Night's Watch (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), now with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, also galloped, and was reported to have looked sharp.

Mixed form bag

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott will have horses at opposite ends of the form scale represent them in Saturday’s G1 Herbie Dyke S. at Te Rapa.

The Matamata trainers will run their G1 Melbourne Cup contender Charles Road (NZ) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and former Hong Kong galloper Giovanni Canaletto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Charles Road was eye-catching at Pukekohe, while Giovanni Canaletto has failed to do better than fourth in three starts since coming to New Zealand and tailed the field home in his latest appearance.

“He didn’t surprise me with how well he went,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s run seventh in a Melbourne Cup and not many can do that. He’s a good horse and he has been going really well.

Giovanni Canaletto is also nominated for the Auckland Cup, but he needs to show a big improvement on his three New Zealand starts, the latest being the G2 Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day when last.

“He has been disappointing, but we’ve changed a few things with him,” O’Sullivan said.

“We gave him a trial a couple of weeks ago and put blinkers on him. He had not been letting go in his races.”

Thumbs up for Otaki

Ryan Elliot has set himself a Group 1 target for his return to race-day riding.

The Hamilton apprentice fractured both thumbs in a trackwork incident on the morning of the Karaka Million twilight meeting last month and as a result missed out on riding Group 1 performer Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

Elliot will undergo an operation to mend his broken thumb and has set himself a target of returning to action on February 23 for the Ge Haunui Farm WFA Group 1 Classic at Otaki.

“I have got a broken thumb that will need an operation, that’s only a day job, so it will be alright,” Elliot said.

“The other thumb is fractured with an infection, but it will be all good hopefully.

“I am hoping to be back for Otaki, Haunui Classic Day, that’s the main aim.”

Stokes keeping Adelaide open

Despite his concerns about the future of South Australian racing, trainer Phillip Stokes intends to keep his Adelaide stable going.

He opened a new stable complex at Pakenham late last year with 40 boxes and 15 day yards and he also has a nearby farm.

A multiple South Australian premiership winner, Stokes is still operating out of Morphettville but says there needs to be something done quickly to address issues with field sizes and prize-money.

Thoroughbred Racing SA recently announced funding cuts because of the state government's failure to allocate any money from the new Point of Consumption tax to the racing industry.

“Look at the field sizes. To get those field sizes back up, it's going to take three years,” Stokes said.

"They've really got to do something about it and the government have got to get behind it and give something back from the point of consumption tax."

Stokes said his Adelaide stable was still serving its purpose.

"If we rented it we'd probably walk away but we own it and I've still got some very long-term staff there I want to keep employed," he said.

List of stable transfers from Darren Weir

Extra Brut (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace)

Brave Smash (Kris Lees)

Amphitrite (David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig)

Land Of Plenty (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace)

Age Of Fire (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace)

Yes Yes Yes (Chris Waller)

Hulk (Chris Waller)

Nussink (Patrick Payne)

Nature Strip (Chris Waller)

Ringerdingding (Chris Waller)

Declares War (Matt Cumani)

Night's Watch (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace)

Voodoo Lad (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace)

Holy Freeze (Peter and Paul Snowden)

Hawkshot (David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig)

Chauffeur (David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig)

Bellaria (Leon and Troy Corstens)

Ozi Choice (Mark O'Donnell)

Banacheck (Patrick Payne)

Invincible Amici (Patrick Payne)

Gallic Chieftain (Archie Alexander)

Camp View (Phillip Stokes)

Not A Single Woman (Phillip Stokes)

River Mist (Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra)

River Jewel (Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra)

Mr Quickie (Phillip Stokes)

Ghilemear (Phillip Stokes)

All Too Huiying (Phillip Stokes)

Indiscretion (Phillip Stokes)