The new-look Emirates Stakes 2016 held at Flemington Racecourse on November 5 is the confirmed first-up target for Chris Waller’s import Endless Drama after a cracking barrier trial success on Monday.

The Lope De Vega stallion will be nominated for the lucrative $2 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) when early entries for the weight-for-age feature close on Monday October 31 at 12:00m (AEDT).

Endless Drama had his first official trial down under for Waller at Cranbourne on Monday over 1190m on a Heavy (8) track with Craig Williams in the saddle.

It was an all-too-easy romp home over the sprint distance for the proven miler who put an emphatic five lengths on the runner-up Heavenly Descent.

Williams rode the 2012 Mackinnon Stakes winner, the race moved and renamed as the Emirates Stakes from 2016, Alcopop to victory and could be fighting to stay on Endless Drama this season.

Only out of quarantine last Saturday, the former Irish-trained galloper was transferred from the care of Ger Lyons to Waller by connections at Qatar Bloodstock this spring.

Waller was more than pleased with the expat’s barnstorming hit-out and is keen to learn more about the entire once he gets to the races.

“The trial was a great way for us to see where he is at and just learn more about the horse,” Waller told Racing Victoria.

“I only laid eyes on him for the first time recently at the quarantine centre at Werribee. He has been going quite well on the track but like the punters, we didn’t really have much of a guide on him.

“Taking him to Cranbourne was a way of getting to find out how he handles travel, how he recovers, how he performs and a better understanding of where his fitness levels are at.

“I would say one in five of the European imports fire when they come to Australia.

“And, from what I’ve seen thus far, I think Endless Drama might fall in to the category of those that will handle our conditions.

“It is a big change for them, our style of racing, the conditions of our tracks and for whatever reason sometimes they just don’t bring their form from Europe.”

Waller confirmed the Emirates Stakes bid at the end of the Melbourne Cup Carnival for the horse’s Australian debut, but said the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival looked the ideal long-term aim.

“The plan is to have only one run with Endless Drama this spring but he is an ideal horse to aim at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney for the autumn carnival,” he said.

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