John Sadler will know on Saturday whether he has a spring horse in lightly-raced three-year-old Scimitar.
The unbeaten Scimitar steps up in class in Saturday's Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington and his performance in the Listed race will decide if he will be given a spring campaign.
Scimitar has put together back-to-back wins at Bendigo to start his career, with the latest victory coming in an 1100m restricted race against older horses on May 29.
While Sadler admitted the gelding faced a rise in grade against a competitive field on Saturday, the trainer said the son of Fastnet Rock had done nothing wrong and deserved to be tested.
"If he can come out and win this race, he's made big steps," Sadler said.
"So then you would give him a freshen up and have a crack at the spring."
Scimitar is rated an $11 chance in the Creswick Stakes market with impressive last-start Caulfield winner She Can Skate favourite at $3.60.
She Can Skate provided her trainer Geoff Wheeler with his first city win when she raced on-speed in an 1100m race and kicked strongly to defeat Spending by four lengths.
Six horses from that Caulfield race, including the first four across the line, will meet again in the Creswick Stakes.
Sadler said Scimitar, who was scratched from the She Can Skate race to run at Bendigo four days later, had continued to please.
Sadler is a chance at stakes success in two states on Saturday with six-year-old Linton to tackle the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
The trainer, however, lamented Linton's barrier draw.
Linton has gate 21 and will jump from 16 if all five emergencies don't gain a start.
"He's up there (in Brisbane) and he's in good order. He's drawn 21 though, so it's going to be a lottery for him," Sadler said.