ATC Derby runner-up Hauraki signalled he was ready for a big spring campaign with an impressive barrier trial performance at Hawkesbury.

The Tulloch Stakes winner caught the eye with a hard-held third in a 1000 metre heat on Monday.

James McDonald allowed Hauraki to sit near the tail of the field and stayed in behind the pack for much of the straight, easing him into the clear late where the gelding worked home powerfully under no pressure.

The trial was won by David Vandyke’s Maurus, a 1900m winner at Rosehill at his last run in June.

Trainer John O’Shea intends to resume Hauraki in the Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday week but will allow the gelding’s progression to determine his spring targets.

Hauraki defeated Omeros to win the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) in March and last ran when second to Mongolian Khan in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m), beating home Rosehill Guineas winner Volkstok’n’barrell.

Hauraki holds nominations for both the Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap in Sydney and is also in both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup in Melbourne.

The TAB has Hauraki rated an $18 chance for the Caulfield Cup and $31 chance for the Cox Plate.