Unbeaten colt Jukebox will have another jumpout before he races after a quiet outing at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.
Jukebox won his first two starts to become favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes but the youngster was a controversial scratching on the day before the race after vets found he had a foot abscess.
Circumstances denied the Ciaron Maher stable the chance to get Jukebox to the Golden Slipper in March but connections have Group I plans for the son of Snitzel in his spring three-year-old preparation.
Craig Williams rode Jukebox in the second heat of the morning but the horse was not asked for an effort before finishing about four lengths from the winner Loom of the Land, who won the 800m jumpout in 48.16 seconds.
Maher's assistant trainer David Eustace said Jukebox did what was required of him in his first jumpout but would step out again before his likely first-up run in the Group III Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19.
"Craig held onto him but he was happy with his action and he was happy to be there and asking to be competitive," Eustace said.
"He's first-up in the Vain (Stakes) and then to the McNeil Stakes (1200m on September 2) but after that plans are pretty fluid."
Eustace said the stable would keep Jukebox sprinting with the aim of competing in the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 4.
"Hopefully if he's good enough, he'll be peaking and end up in the Coolmore but there's a long way to get there," Eustace said.
"He has always shown natural speed and we don't think there's any reason to stretch him out (in distance).
"He was always just a thorough professional as a two-year-old and he has brought that into his three-year-old preparation. He hasn't been a lad or anything like that, he's been pretty straight forward."
Click here to view the replay of Jukebox's Caulfield jumpout. Jukebox's jockey Craig Williams wears the light blue silks with pink Maltese cross and striped sleeves.
