"It's the Cox Plate for sure. He's a serious talent and now we're out to secure his stud future," trainer Andrew Campbell said.
"If he comes up to our expectations there's a possible northern (hemisphere) trip on the cards, he's had the inoculations and if he comes up as well as we think he will then you've got to leave all the options open."
Cauthen hasn't raced since January when he finished runner-up at Trentham where
the rock-hard track took its toll.Following a spell, the Darci Brahma colt began his current preparation at Kendayla Park where he spent four weeks on the water walker at Russell and Robyn Rogers' Cambridge farm.
Cauthen has been working on his home track for the last month and, provided track conditions are suitable, he will step out in a Rating 85 1200m event at Hastings on August 30 before crossing the Tasman.
"I could not be happier with him, he's 110 per cent," Campbell said. "He's strengthened up, there are no niggles, and we're gearing-up for an exciting season ahead."
Cauthen emerged as a serious talent when he went to Melbourne last winter off the back of a runaway debut win at Te Rapa to finish an unlucky second at Moonee Valley over 1000 metres.
At his next appearance, he accounted for Shamus Award and Long John, subsequent and respective winners of the Cox Plate and Caulfield Guineas, in the Listed Mitchell McKenzie Stakes before shin soreness forced his return home.
Campbell's shorter-term focus is on Saturday's meeting at Te Rapa where he hopes his Savabeel youngster Francome can come off the ballot for a run in the Devon Oaks 1100.
"He's still a bit green, but he goes all right, and it's a starting point on a reasonable track," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.
