Trainer Jim Conlan has spring aspirations for German import Beau Balmain who makes his Australian debut at Caulfield.

Beau Balmain runs in Saturday's Catanach's Jewellers Handicap with Conlan describing the lightly-raced four-year-old a "proper" horse that shapes as a quality stayer.

But Conlan is unsure what he'll see from Beau Balmain on Saturday after missing an important 1550m barrier trial at Cranbourne on Monday.

"That was where I was going to get a good indication of where he was at with his fitness under something similar to race conditions," Conlan said.

"He's going to this race on Saturday I would say quite underdone, but I wanted to get a couple of runs into him before the end of June so I could then back right off him and have him ready for the spring.

"He'll run on Saturday and then in two or three weeks time there's another race that will be suitable for him and I think then we'll get a better indication of where he fits into Australian racing."

Beau Balmain won two of his four starts in Germany before connections, a family with members in Australia and Germany, decided to send him to Australia.

Conlan said a former owner he had some success with had recommended him to the owners.

"I trained for a guy many years ago and we hit it off well, became mates to some extent, and he knows the owners of this horse," Conlan said.

"When it was decided they were going to send the horse to Australia my name was put up.

"I had a meeting with them and ended up getting the horse."

Conlan said Beau Balmain was a big strong horse with a good action that would be aimed at the big spring races.

"I've watched his style of racing which will be OK in Australia," Conlan said.

"He ticks a lot of boxes of being the right type of horse for Australia."