Gadfly doesn't have the profile of most of his opponents in the Run To The Rose but his trainer believes it is worth putting him to the test.

The Paul Perry-trained colt earned his way to Saturday's Group Two race at Rosehill with his last-start win over 1200 metres on his home track at Newcastle.

That was his fourth start which came after three minor placings at the provincial course.

"You never know unless you try," Perry said.

"We'll throw him in the deep end and give it a go and see what happens.

"He's a nice colt and if he goes well, then we would have to think about the Golden Rose.

"This race will be the measuring stick."

Gadfly is at $151 in early markets on Saturday's race with Star Turn the $3.80 favourite ahead of Impending at $4.60 and Mediterranean at $4.80.

El Divino, the younger half brother to champion mare Winx is also among the favoured runners at $5.50.

Gadfly also has breeding on his side as a son of Smart Missile out of Distinctive, a daughter of Special who held the 1000m-record at Flemington of 55.5sec for 25 years until Black Caviar bettered her time in 2013.

Both mares ran the times in the Lightning Stakes.

Smart Missile is a son of Fastnet Rock who Perry trained to win the 2005 Lightning but he is hoping Gadfly has the scope to get up to the 1400 metres of the Golden Rose.

With rain forecast in Sydney in the lead-up to Saturday, Perry has no qualms about Gadfly on wet ground.

"All his runs have been on soft or heavy which is just the way it's turned out," Perry said.

"He has won a trial on good going so I think he would be effective on that as well."