Stuart Kendrick was happy to see Show Me Mercy prove himself against a Magic Millions contender last time out, but the Sunshine Coast trainer will give him one more chance to prove he belongs in the $3 million 3YO Guineas.
The son of Astern will look to build on an already impressive career record in the $300,000 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben.
Show Me Mercy was narrowly beaten by Abounding in the Gold Edition Plate (1200m) on December 16 and confronts another battling it out for Magic Millions 3YO Guineas favouritism, the Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor, in the Vo Rogue Plate.
"Hopefully he steps up and shows that he's up to that class," Kendrick said.
"There's a couple in there that are high in the betting for the Magic Millions 3YO race, so I think this will give us a pretty good guide where we sit after the weekend.
"But he's always showed plenty and I think he's got the ability to mix it with those type of horses."
Show Me Mercy will again be ridden by Michael Rodd, who was aboard for the Gold Edition Stakes third placing, with the pair now into barrier two after a couple of early scratchings.
That alley, combined with the step up in distance, presents an ideal scenario for Show Me Mercy according to Kendrick.
"From there we should just be able to box-seat and get that good run and hopefully get every opportunity," Kendrick said.
"He probably just hit that little bit of a flat spot at the top of the straight (last start), but once he balanced up Michael Rodd said he really hit the line well."
