Consistent three-year-old Salute To Jude's hopes of running in a $1 million Gold Coast race hinge on his performance at Flemington.

Salute To Jude was a $125,000 purchase at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, which made him eligible for the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on January 11.

But he must perform to trainer Robert Smerdon's satisfaction in Saturday's Fiesta Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Smerdon said the son of Stratum would need to at least match his solid first-up third behind the smart colt Lord Of The Sky to earn a trip to Queensland.

"I reckon he went terrific first-up but this is a bit of a test for him class-wise to see where he goes," Smerdon said.

"We have got the option of the 1400-metre race at the Gold Coast if his form warrants it. There's no point going up there to make up the numbers.

"I would say if he's not very competitive in Saturday's race, you'd think it wouldn't be worth going to Queensland because it (the Magic Millions Guineas) is going to be a fair race."

Smerdon will have one runner at a Flemington meeting for the second successive Saturday after Electric Fusion successfully carried the trainer's hopes last Saturday.

Smerdon has prepared six winners from his past 15 runners despite having fewer horses in work at his Caulfield base.

"We haven't had the volume of runners and our numbers in work are down on what they are normally are but the recent wins have been very pleasing," Smerdon said.

Top apprentice Chad Schofield will take over from the suspended Mark Zahra aboard Salute To Jude.

Salute To Jude is a $10 chance in a wide-open betting race in which Glen Boss' mount Oltre Finito is the $5 favourite.

Oltre Finito was beaten for the first time in four starts when a photo finish went against him at Bendigo on November 27.

That was the four-year-old's first start after ending his previous campaign with a hat-trick of wins.