This time of year usually sees trainers heading north in pursuit of a berth at the Magic Millions Carnival, but Liam Birchley is taking the opposite approach with his promising youngster Gold Czech.

The Sunshine Coast trainer has opted to head to Victoria instead, believing Saturday’s Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic (1100m) at Caulfield Heath offers his gelding the clearest path toward qualifying for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on January 17.

Birchley said he would prefer to remain in Queensland, but the programming leaves limited opportunities for juveniles ahead of the Gold Coast feature.

“If the programming had been a little bit better, I wouldn’t need to travel,” Birchley said.

“We don’t have a Magic Millions standalone race in Queensland, and it’s our race.

“We’re forced to earn double the amount of prize money as the southern state horse because of the disparity, and I think it’s a joke.

“There’s no two-year-old race on Saturday and then the following weekend we’ve got the B J McLachlan which is a Stakes race.”

He said the Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes will attract a large interstate presence, making it difficult to secure a run.

“It will be a big field … so I’m more than likely to miss out on a run there as well and if I wait another week, you run out of time to qualify.”

Birchley believes a first or second placing at Caulfield Heath would secure enough prize money, but the long float trip—via Sydney—presents its own challenges.

There is also the question of how Gold Czech will handle the Heath track.

“He’s shown something,” Birchley said.

“He won his last trial … but it’s hard to gauge the form out of it.

“He did get back and ran on, and whether that will be conducive to the Caulfield Heath track, that will be another thing as well.

“He will be in there with a hope, but there are more unknowns than usual.”

Luke Nolen takes the ride on debut.

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