A GOOD DAY IN CALIFORNIA

Eliza Park globetrotter, Phil Marshall, is currently wending his way back to the land of Oz after spending Christmas in the UK: taking a detour to the US of A for a peek at Pressday.

The Group One winning 2YO is now in the stables of California trainer, John Sadler (left), and according to Phil, has come up a treat.

“John (Sadler) is very, very sweet on Pressday (below) and has an ambitious program set out for the horse,” Phil points out. “If all goes well he should make his American debut in the Group Two Arcadia Stakes over 1600m on turf on 4 February, while his main aim is the Group One Kilroe Mile on 3 March … probably the best turf mile race in the USA.”

Poised to stand at Eliza Park this spring, Pressday’s chances of shuttling will rest largely on his performances in the States: “As a grandson of Red Ransom, we feel he (Pressday) has genuine international appeal and if we can get a reverse shuttle deal it will help secure the horse’s future,” Eliza Park principal, Lee Fleming, told AAP last month.

“John has had good results with horses from Australian and New Zealand,” Lee adds.

Indeed, Sadler trained New Zealand-bred mare Black Mamba to a Grade One victory, while Red Arrow, a weight-for-age placegetter in Australia for Anthony Cummings, also made a winning transition to United States racing under his care.

Horses trained by Sadler have earned more than $US70 million and he has won titles at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and De Mar.

Internationally, Sadler is best known as the trainer of Our New Recruit, winner of the 2004 Golden Shaheen Stakes in Dubai.