Buoyed by a successful New Zealand raid last season, Ben Hayes is looking to repeat the dose as Arkansaw Kid lines up in Saturday’s Railway Stakes at Ellerslie.

The 1200-metre Group 1 sprint kicks off a two-start trans-Tasman campaign for the five-year-old, mirroring the path taken by Here To Shock last summer.

That approach paid dividends when Here To Shock landed the Group 1 BDC Group Sprint (1400m) in February 2024.

The result has given the Hayes camp the confidence to take another shot.

“He left after his trial last week and we are really happy with him,” Ben said.

“It is full steam ahead.”

Arkansaw Kid, a son of Harry Angel, won a Flemington jump-out over 800 metres on January 9.

That came after finishing third in the AU$1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham in December.

That form has since stood up strongly, producing multiple winners.

“We had success last year and Arkansaw Kid, I think he is a very good group two horse in Australia who is competitive in group ones but always finds one better,” Hayes said.

“We thought it is a great opportunity to try and win a group one with him.”

Arkansaw Kid was last seen finishing second in The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne behind Jigsaw, who also heads to Ellerslie.