A carefully plotted plan to kick off Blitzburg’s spring in the Rosebud will be realised on Saturday when the Canonbury Stakes winner tackles a small but talented field of three-year-old colts at Rosehill.

One of two runners for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou alongside Skyhook, Blitzburg has been set for this assignment for months. “He has been earmarked at this race for a long time,” Alexiou said. “He’s had a strong foundation, he’s fit and ready, and the soft ground won’t bother him.”

Blitzburg’s standout performance came in February’s Canonbury Stakes (1100m), where the addition of winkers and positive tactics saw him score dominantly. A post-race bone chip operation ended his autumn, but Alexiou says the team learned plenty and will again look to be positive from his wide draw.

Stablemate Skyhook announced himself with a stirring win in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) earlier this year. While he must carry top weight of 60.5kg—six kilos more than favourite Pallaton—and is untested on wet ground, he is being aimed at the Group 1 Golden Rose via the Run To The Rose.

“His work suggests he’s a nice horse,” Alexiou said. “He still has to come back and prove it against this field, but we believe he’s capable.”

Skyhook has had just one trial for this campaign, but Alexiou notes he’s kept up to the mark with solid trackwork. Blitzburg, in contrast, arrives with two strong trials and is “very forward” for his return.