Chris Waller's first winner from his new Gold Coast satellite stable was a dour stayer but the bigger plan is for his juveniles to target the riches of the Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival.
Five-year-old gelding Devil Hawk ($8.50), who won the Benchmark 80 Handicap (2200m) at Doomben by 2.3 lengths, is no superstar but the master Sydney trainer is hoping to unearth some future champions from the coast.
Waller's Gold Coast stable manager Paul Shailer, who was at Doomben for Devil Hawk's win, detailed the blueprint which will make the Sydney trainer a more potent force at Magic Millions time.
Waller has enjoyed many big race wins in Queensland, including Egg Tart in the Group I Queensland Oaks during the recent winter carnival, but is keen to make the Magic Millions more of a target.
Waller has never had much of a presence in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
"The Magic Millions is far too lucrative to ignore now," Shailer said.
"We want to have a base here, we have noticed that Queensland two-year-old's have done really well in races here.
"Chris is a force to be reckoned with and hopefully he will stamp his authority in Queensland.
"At the moment we only have seven horses in work at the Gold Coast but in the next three weeks that number will be up to 20 or 25.
"It will be a great base for the Queensland winter carnival too as Chris normally brings 12-15 horses up here and it is hard to find accommodation for that many horses."
Shailer said Devil Hawk, who hadn't got closer than 4.4 lengths to the winner at his last four starts in Sydney, had thrived on the move to the coast.
"The change of environment has given him a new lease of life and he is the perfect example of a horse who is suitable to the new operation on the Gold Coast," Shailer said.
