A puzzling trial effort has slightly altered the spring path for dual Group winner North England, but the colt is now on track to rejoin the three-year-old features at Rosehill.

The son of Blue Point, who claimed the Kindergarten Stakes in the autumn, was expected to resume in the San Domenico Stakes (1000m). Those plans were shelved after he turned in a flat trial behind T J Smith Stakes hero Briasa at Canterbury on August 18, dropping away despite being ridden out.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott said the run was not up to expectations and conditions may have played their part. “He struggled a bit in that trial,” Bott explained. “It might have been the heavy track and the conditions that didn’t have him entirely comfortable at Canterbury. It was a bit below par and we needed to see a bit more before we pushed on to the path we’ve got him on.”

Connections sent North England back for another trial, where he produced a much-improved second to Everest contender Private Harry. That effort was enough to regain confidence and Bott confirmed the colt will now head straight into the Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. “He came back and trialled nicely the other day so we’ll most likely see him link back into the program we had for him and go to The Run To The Rose. I thought that was a good trial. He seemed right back on track.”

North England was once considered a major Golden Slipper hope after landing the Golden Gift (1100m) last spring, but setbacks before the Silver Slipper disrupted his preparation. He still managed to finish sixth in the Slipper before closing his juvenile campaign with a Group 3 success.

The Run To The Rose is one of the major lead-ups to the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 27, which has drawn star nominations including Nepotism, Wodeton, Raging Force and Skyhook.