TRAINER Mitch Beer is weighing up his options with promising galloper Sky Call.
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Sky Call was a last-start winner of the Country Championship qualifier at Albury last month and is set to have her final hit-out before the lucrative final at either Albury or Rosehill.
The four-year-old mare is an acceptor for tomorrow's $75,000 City Handicap, (1175m) with Teo Nugent booked to ride.
Beer is also considering raising the bar and testing Sky Call in group 3 company in the $160,000 TAB Birthday Card Stakes, (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
"I haven't made a final decision on which way I'm going to head yet," Beer said.
"But she has drawn well at Albury and we don't have to travel and she looks the horse to beat on her home track."
Beer said Sky Call has thrived since her Country Championships qualifier victory over Bennelong Dancer.
He immediately sent her to the paddock for a freshen-up mindful the lucrative final at Randwick is not until April 4.
Both Sky Call and Bennelong Dancer are quoted at $26 for the final with the Cody Morgan-trained Ligulate the $4.50-favourite.
Beer said the drop in distance from 1400m to 1175m in the Albury feature wouldn't pose a problem.
"She has thrived since she has come back into the stable and is flying in her work," he said.
"The drop back in distance to 1175m in not a concern.
"Drawing barrier 2 is perfect and Teo can just stalk the speed and then find some clear galloping room in the straight.
"She is up against some tough opposition but if she is going to be any hope in the Championship final she should be winning a race of this nature."
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The toughest to beat could be the George Osborne-trained Mount Horeb if he can recapture his winning form.
Mount Horeb won the $75,000 feature last year in dominant fashion after being heavily supported in betting and starting as an odds-on favourite.
Interestingly after the victory, Mount Horeb spent almost 12-months on the sidelines before resuming at Moonee Valley last month.
Mount Horeb finished at the tail of the field over the 955m sprint with Linda Meech aboard.
Beer is set to have five runners on the opening day of the carnival.
The young trainer declared Sky Hall his best hope but warned punters that stablemate Mr Trump could improve sharply.
Mr Trump is set to contest the $22,000 Benchmark 58 Hcp, (1600m) with claiming apprentice Ellen Hennessy booked to ride.
The former Kiwi finished midfield in much tougher grade on Country Championships qualifier day when resuming from a 24-week spell.
"I expect Mr Trump to improve sharply," he said.
