Queensland trainer Liam Birchley has gone for local experience by engaging Hayden Tinsley to ride Sarge in Charge in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie on January 25.

Sarge In Charge will leave for New Zealand on Saturday after Birchley was unable to find a suitable lead-up race for the youngster in Queensland.

"There's no races around for him here so he'll go straight into the Karaka Million without another run," Birchley said.

"He had a good barrier trial last week and finished third over 1100 metres at Eagle Farm.

"He's been doing well and I couldn't be happier with him.

"Unfortunately he wasn't eligible for our Magic Millions here yesterday and I've had trouble trying to find a good race for him before sending him away."

Birchley, who came within a neck of a million-dollar pay day when glamour filly Paprika ran second in Saturday's A$2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast, can't compare Sarge In Charge with his stablemate.

A A$110,000 yearling purchase at the Karaka Sales, Sarge in Charge showed maturity beyond his years when he scored for jockey Shane Scriven over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm last start on Boxing Day.

A flashy chestnut with a white blaze, Sarge in Charge is by Golan, sire of 2007 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz, and Birchley said the horse had been a surprise from the day he was broken in.

"I've never had a horse by Golan before but he caught my eye at the sales and I bought him as a staying type," Birchley said.

Apart from the disappointment of Paprika's loss, Birchley's great run continued in support races at the Magic Millions with Pepperwood and Southport both winning their events.