Trainer Jason Warren and the connections of Benedetta are pondering options for the mare which will be firmed up after she runs in a Group 1 sprint at Moonee Valley.
Benedetta will run for the first time at Moonee Valley in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) on Saturday after pleasing Warren in a gallop at the track on Tuesday.
The mare is one of nine acceptors for the race with barriers to be drawn at 5.15pm on Tuesday.
Warren said he wants to see how Benedetta performs on Saturday before shoring up the future campaign for the five-year-old.
“Her effort here on Saturday will probably determine which direction we go,” Warren said.
“Essentially, we’ve got three options.
“One is to go to Sydney to run in the T J Smith, the second option is to freshen and go to Adelaide for the Sangster and then there’s also the option to go to England.
“They have put a lot more money behind that event over there now, especially for the horses that travel, and that makes it a lot more lucrative.
“When you travel to the other side of the world to run in races of less value than over here, there’s no point doing it, but once they’ve supplemented the travel, you have to factor it in.
“If you travel over to England, it effectively rules out the spring, so there’s a lot to take into account, but if she wins on Saturday, I would say the connections would be more inclined to run in the T J.
“We’ll just worry about Saturday first and then see how it all plays out.”
While Benedetta is yet to race at Moonee Valley, she has had experience at the track.
Warren gave Benedetta a gallop leading up to the William Reid Stakes two years ago, before deciding against running the then three-year-old in the Group 1 sprint.
Now as an older, experienced mare with a Group 1 win under the belt, Warren is happy to return to the track with a mare that just requires some luck to fall her way.
First-up Benedetta finished third in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) before finishing tenth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Both races were on the Flemington straight course where Benedetta drew an inside barrier.
“The Newmarket, second-up, was our target, and we felt the Lightning was the perfect kick-off for her,” Warren said.
“We drew the inside in the Lightning and really didn’t want to be there and it forced our hand to go to the inside.
“She was game, but they never win going back to the inside.
“Ben (Melham) had to try something different to overcome that barrier in the Newmarket, and while the plan was to ride her a bit more conservative, he just ran into absolute traffic jams.
“It was just a car crash really. A non-event for such an achievable Group 1 and it was a bitter pill to swallow.
“She’s had a nice two weeks since and is spot on.”
Daniel Stackhouse returns to the saddle on Saturday.