Eric Musgrove has designs on another international foray after the reinvigorated trainer claimed a jumps double on the opening day of the Warrnambool May carnival.

Musgrove won a division of the maiden hurdle with Zataglio but it was his victory with Thubiaan in the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) that has him thinking about a return trip to Japan.

Karasi provided Musgrove with three-straight Grand Jump victories at Nakayama in Japan in 2005/06/07 but the 63-year-old says Thubiaan may be the best jumper he has prepared.

Ridden by Martin Kelly and sent out favourite, Thubiaan scored a six-length win over Jervois ($12) with King Triton ($10) 4-1/4 lengths away third.

Thubiaan was having his second start over the fences, having scored in the Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank.

The seven-year-old was sent to Musgrove by leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller in February last year and made his debut in a maiden hurdle at the Warrnambool carnival 12 months ago.

"He trained a few jumpers in New Zealand in the early days and we've always been fairly good friends," Musgrove said of Waller.

"He said he had always been on the lookout to send me a decent horse to jump and he looks like he may have found me one.

"He always had steeplechaser written all over him but he needed a season of hurdling first.

"He's a lovely horse, he's got a high cruising speed and he's one of the best horses I've had."

After years where there was concern over the future of jumps racing, Musgrove is sure the sport is in for a healthy future.

He said he had 25 horses in work and while his numbers didn't drop he has started to attract a new batch of horses into his stable.

Musgrove said he would now aim Thubiaan at the Australian Steeplechase at Ballarat on May 31 and the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat in July.

He said has deliberately bypassed Thursday's Grand Annual Steeplechase.

"If you run in the Annual that's you for the season," Musgrove said.

"It's a great race to win, but I think he's a horse with a future and next season we might take him to Japan."