Trainer John Moloney has decided to bypass the rich Magic Millions prize money on offer to stay at home with his filly Scorched Earth.
The last start Flemington winner is set to tackle older horses in Benchmark 84 grade race over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday.
Moloney said there was not enough positives for him to take Scorched Earth to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions meeting on January 15.
Races picked out for Scorched Earth at the Gold Coast were the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) or the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares (1300m).
“The distances weren’t the right thing for her and with the trip and everything else we thought it was against her, especially where she is at the moment,” Moloney said.
“Playing up there, racing the other way, there weren’t enough positives to say go. I know it’s a lot of money, but I don’t care.
“The horse is what I’m thinking about and her future going forward, so we’ll keep her in the right company at this stage and sort a way out.”
Scorched Earth won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Murray Bridge last February and returned to win the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at The Valley the following month.
After a mixed spring campaign, Scorched Earth came off a freshen up to score against older horses at Flemington in a 1000m Benchmark 78 grade race on December 18.
As to where Scorched Earth heads after Saturday, Moloney will be guided by her performance.
“She runs in open company on Saturday and after that I’ll know whether we can go into a stakes race against older horses or aim for a stakes race against fillies,” Moloney said.
While Scorched Earth will not be heading north, Moloney has sent Saltpeter up to potentially contest the Magic Millions Open (1800m).
Saltpeter ran ninth over 1600m at Randwick on Boxing Day on his way to the Gold Coast.
“He’s there already,” Moloney said.
“He ran in Sydney last week, didn’t run too bad, so he’s continued his way up.”