Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is no stranger to success in the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand, the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and he is hoping to replicate the winning feeling next weekend as he prepares to line-up a pair of quality fillies in the Ellerslie dash for cash.

Torque To Be Sure survived a protest in the stewards’ room to shrug his maiden tag on the biggest stage with a win in the $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on Saturday.