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Last year’s winter find, Supergiant, faces an acid test to determine his future plans when he lines up in the Listed Tails Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Trainer Michael Costa has a few options in mind with the four-year-old during the TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, but won't reveal his hand until after the 1630-metre feature.
"He's coming off a disappointing campaign following last year's winter when a few things went wrong," Costa said.
"We were planning to send him interstate but he kept getting a few niggling problems.
"He had a temperature at one stage then a foot abscess which meant he couldn't go away.
"We've got a plan A, plan B and even a plan C in mind with him this winter but we won't know more until we see how he comes up this campaign.
"We could even take him away interstate if his form is up to it for a race like the Grafton Cup."
Supergiant was raised at New Zealand's famous home of stayers, Mapperley Stud, and is related to the 2007 Victoria Derby winner Kibbutz.
He emerged from obscurity last winter after winning a mediocre Class 1 at Ipswich in April to run second to the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Vanna Girl in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Doomben in May last year.
He then led all the way to win the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at Eagle Farm in May before finishing second in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2200m) at Eagle Farm the next month.
Supergiant has had one run this campaign finishing eighth to Racecourse Road over 1200 metres at Doomben on April 10.
"It was way too short for him last run and he was run off his feet," Costa said.
"The calendar didn't play too kindly for us working out his first run back and we always knew he needed a first-up run before he shows his best.
"He's been lacking a bit of confidence and the jury is out whether he's back to his best.
"But his work on Tuesday was winning work and he looks to be back to his old self."
Costa plans to take it run-by-run with Supergiant before finalising his winter campaign.
"We're looking at all the major Cup races but which one will be determined by how he goes tomorrow," he said.
"On his trackwork he should pick up a decent cheque tomorrow."