Trainer Mike Moroney is looking forward to the Australian debut of Courageous Rock at Sandown, with the imported stayer looming as an interesting runner at the midweek meeting.

Courageous Rock was one of six horses purchased as a yearling in England in 2012 by Moroney's brother Paul for the Ballymore Downunder syndicate.

He did his early racing in the UK before it was decided he was the right type of horse to come to Australia while some of the others were sold.

He is set to make have his first start for the Moroney stable in the Guinot Skincare Maiden Plate on Wednesday with Steven Arnold to ride.

"We sent my brother Paul over to buy yearlings that year," Moroney said.

"We just felt that the older horses were starting to get a bit too expensive so we went there to buy some nice staying types.

"He was one of two that we thought were the right ones to come across."

The other is stablemate Extra Noble who is nominated for Saturday's Sandown meeting but Moroney said he was still unsure whether he will head there for his Australian debut.

Courageous Rock is a maiden after five starts with his best result a second in a 2414-m race at Lingfield.

Moroney was there to watch Courageous Rock in that race and then decided to geld him and bring him to Australia.

The son of Rock Hard Ten resumes over 1400m and Moroney described him as a nice stayer in the making.

But having pleased the trainer in a couple of jump-outs, Moroney is optimistic about him running well first-up.

"You wouldn't expect him to stay maiden class for very long," Moroney said.

Moroney said he hopes Courageous Rock and Extra Noble can progress to nice staying races in time.

"They are two nice horses so it will be interesting to see how they measure up here," he said.