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It's a long way from Coonamble to Flemington on Melbourne Cup day but Tamworth trainer Leon Davies is ready for the challenge with his promising gelding Altonia.
Davies outlined his daring plan after Altonia won Sunday's $30,000 Coonamble Cup, naming a race at Flemington on November 1 as his next target with the five-year-old.
It would cap a meteoric rise as Altonia only won his maiden at Dubbo in April and has now recorded four wins in six career starts.
Davies says it may seem ambitious but he is confident Altonia, a 5YOI by Cox Plate winner Savabeel, can measure up to black type company at Flemington.
“There's a Listed race over 1800 metres at Flemington on Cup Day and that's going to be his mission,” Davies said.
“He's done everything right and his preparation has been spot on.”
“If he runs well we might even go to the Perth Cup with him.
“His half brother won a WA Derby over there. It's a big ask but it would be a great trip.”
Altonia won over 1900m at Canterbury before going up another notch to win the Coonamble Cup over 1600m, giving the trainer his second successive win in the race after last year's victory with Prussian Secret.
Champion country jockey Greg Ryan rode both horses for Davies.
Altonia will be the first Melbourne runner for Davies but he knows the lie of the land as he took horses to the spring carnival while working for Gai Waterhouse before starting his own training career.