New Zealand's best two-year-old of last season is on his way to Australia seeking a Group One prize no Kiwi has taken for 19 years.

Vespa easily accounted for the previously unbeaten Copy Watch in the Listed Challenge Stakes at Ruakaka on Saturday but trainer Johno Benner wanted to see how he recovered before committing to a Caulfield Guineas campaign.

Benner says the colt is in great shape and will head to Australia on Wednesday.

"It's actually amazing how well he has pulled up and there's so much improvement in him," Benner told NZ Racing Desk.

"We'll just be taking it one race at a time and trying to protect his record."

Vespa was named champion two-year-old of New Zealand after winning the Group One Diamond Stakes and the $1 million Karaka Million for Karaka sales graduates.

He will begin his Melbourne campaign in the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 28 on the way to the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11.

It's the same path used last year by El Roca, who was second in the Prelude before being blocked for a run in the Caulfield Guineas.

Few New Zealanders contest the Caulfield Guineas and no New Zealander has won the race since the brilliant Our Maizcay outclassed Ravarda and Octagonal by three lengths in 1995.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's champion three-year-old of last season won't make his way across the Tasman until at least mid-October.

Trainer Peter McKay considered sending Puccini to Australia after he won the Group Three Merial Mile at Awapuni on Saturday, but he has now decided to contest the Group One Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings on October 4 before going to Australia.

"I've been aiming to have a crack at the Cox Plate - at this stage that's my main aim," McKay said.

"If he can't get into the Cox Plate then he'll run in the Caulfield Cup."

Puccini won the New Zealand Derby last season and finished fifth in the Australian Derby.