Sacred Falls has worked well enough against Cox Plate runner Foreteller for trainer Chris Waller to declare the Doncaster Mile winner close to recapturing his best form.
So much so, Waller seriously thought about starting the four-year-old in the Cox Plate.
Sacred Falls galloped with stablemate Foreteller at Moonee Valley Tuesday with both horses impressing.
"Then I spoke to the owners of Sacred Falls and they weren't that keen (to run in the Cox Plate)," Waller said.
"They're trying to get his confidence back."
Waller hopes Sacred Falls can do just that by winning the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The race has attracted an intriguing field including last-start Group One placegetters Toydini and Blackie, comeback gallopers December Draw and Rain Drum as well as Speediness who has raced without luck at his past two starts.
A brilliant winner of the Doncaster Mile in the autumn, Sacred Falls hasn't been able to reproduce that sort of form in his three Sydney spring runs.
Waller said Sacred Falls' Sydney preparation had been behind and the trainer is certain the Group One Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 9 is the right target race.