Allan Sharrock might have a battle on his hands to keep hold of the talented two-year-old Mihaul, who will go to the spelling paddock with his unbeaten record intact.

The New Plymouth trainer said overseas interest is sure to intensify in the wake of the Goodwood Stud graduate’s latest win at Awapuni today, but he is hopeful any offers will be knocked back.

“The phone has already been ringing and now he’s qualified for Hong Kong it’s going to be hard to turn the money down, but I really like this horse and he might just replace Kawi when he retires,” the New Plymouth trainer said. 

With Kawi already a triple Group One winner, Mihaul has a long way to go to match the stable star but he has made a lightning start.

The Iffraaj juvenile was a first-up winner on a good track at Hastings last month and he was able to overcome testing conditions at Awapuni to claim the JB Ware Transag Centre Handicap.

“He wasn’t happy out there, but he got the job done and he’ll go out now,” Sharrock said. “He’s a big horse with a lot of strength and he can only get better.”

Mihaul was bought out of Goodwood’s 2015 Select Sale draft at Karaka by Sharrock for $40,000.

He is out of the General Nediym mare Lol, who also won as a two-year-old and placed in the Listed Ryder Stakes.