Talented Ballistic Boy will miss the Group Two Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill and give trainer Chris Anderson a two-handed assault at Eagle Farm.
Australia has a vintage crop of three-year-olds this season and Queensland is no different with Ballistic Boy and stablemate Profit among the best.
The pair are raced by syndicates from the Think Big Stud and were earmarked as future middle-distance horses from early in their careers.
Ballistic Boy was entered for the Hobartville Stakes but did not accept and he will resume against Profit over 1400m at Eagle Farm with a later Sydney trip in the offing.
Anderson is hoping both will measure up to the Group One Sydney three-year-old treble of the Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and ATC Australian Derby.
“First they will have to earn the trip but we have to aim high as they are only three once,” he said.
Anderson said he felt the 1400m on Saturday would be too short but both had pleased him in recent weeks.
“Ballistic Boy looked good in winning a trial at Doomben three weeks ago,” Anderson said.
“He has already been to Sydney when fourth at Randwick (in the $1 million Bondi Stakes) at his most recent run when he got held up for a run in the straight.
“That run and his efforts against the good horses in the winter convinced us he is up to Sydney class.
“But he is better starting off in Brisbane on Saturday than against the real top-liners in the Hobartville.”
Ballistic Boy, who has 55kg, will be ridden by Brad Stewart for the first time.
Profit has topweight of 59kg which will be reduced by 1.5kg by apprentice Stephanie Thornton‘s claim.
“Profit has had a jump-out and he only had ten days off after running midfield in the Magic Millions Guineas,” Anderson said.
“He has form around Alligator Blood who he was second to in the Vo Rogue Plate.”
Anderson has a third runner for the Think Big Stud on Saturday in Empire Games in the QTIS Three Year Old (1800m).
“He is a very well-bred horse by Cox Plate winner Adelaide and he won well at his second start,” Anderson said.
“We also have hopes for him as a stayer over a genuine course.”