Connections of lightly raced Murt The Flirt are eyeing off interstate Group races for the three-year-old.
A trip to either Adelaide or Queensland is on the agenda with trainer Brendan McCarthy and the gelding’s owners to weigh up both options.
Murt The Flirt is already an experienced traveller and makes his return to racing in Wednesday’s JB Scott Handicap (1100m) at Geelong, a meeting transferred from Sandown because of issues with the city track.
McCarthy said Murt The Flirt’s performance at Geelong would determine whether he heads to Adelaide for the Euclase Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 9 or the Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Doomben on June 6.
“It will be one or the other,” McCarthy said.
“It’s 90 per cent more likely that we’ll be going up to Queensland.”
McCarthy said if the option was taken to head to Queensland Murt The Flirt would have one more run in Melbourne before a 1350m race in Brisbane on his way to the Queensland Guineas.
Murt The Flirt has had just three starts and made an impressive debut at Ballarat in November.
He then travelled to the NSW Central Coast where he finished fifth in the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes before running fifth behind Deiheros in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.
McCarthy said Murt The Flirt was in good order ahead of his second racing campaign.
“He had six or seven weeks out,” McCarthy said.
“He’s had two jump-outs since he’s been back in and I’m really happy with how he’s been going.”
Of some concern for McCarthy is the way the Geelong track raced at last week’s transferred Sandown meeting when it favoured on-pace runners.
“If you weren’t on the pace you had trouble picking them up,” McCarthy said.
“But he’s fresh enough and should be able to take up a forward spot.”
As a back-up Murt The Flirt has been nominated for a race at Caulfield on Saturday.
