Mitch Freedman is uncertain exactly where the spring might take promising mare Mahashakti.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Ballarat trainer will let the five-year-old tell him what direction she takes.
Mahashakti launches her spring campaign in the IVE Print Handicap, 1400m, at Caulfield on Saturday.
This will be her first race start since February, when she put together four wins on end.
She began the sequence at her second career run in a maiden at Geelong and followed up in a benchmark58 at the same circuit.
Mahashakti then went back-to-back in benchmark70 fillies' and mares' company over 2040m at Moonee Valley.
Freedman said the Caulfield assignment was an immediate step up in class - being an open benhcmark78.
"I don't know what level she'll get to. She'll tell us.
"We'll see how she goes first-up and then decide where to take her next up."
Mahashakti, which is nominated for the Caulfield Cup, has already shown enough to indicate she deserves a crack in black-type company and this is most likely to way she will head.
Freedman said the group 2 Matriarch Stakes, 2000m, on the last day of the Flemington Cup Carnival in early November was possible target.
He said in the meantime, there were not a lot of mares-only staying options.
"There's races up 1600m, but not a great deal beyond that."
Freedman said she might yet have to go down a country cups path.
Freedman expects Mahashakti, who will be ridden by apprentice Tahlia Hope, to settle off the speed from barrier seven.
He said he would be looking to her to finish off strongly.
Freedman is looking for a new stable star with staying mare Moonlight Maid on the market.
She won the group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes and was also placed twice at group 1 level in the Victoria Oaks and Australasian Oaks in her three-year-old season.
FELLOW Ballarat trainer Dan O'Sullivan continues the campaign of Caulfield and Melbourne Cups nomination Horse for Higher in the Thank You MRC Members Handicap, 1700m, at Caulfield.
The six-year-old mare has had three starts this preparation for a second on the Ballarat synthetic and second over 1600m at Moonee Valley.
Stable apprentice Will Price, who has already had two city wins this season, takes the ride.
While Freedman has an eye on the Matriarch Stakes, O'Sullivan won the feature with now retired Ballarat Cup runner-up Affair To Remember last year.