Star Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues has been given a pass mark following a special gallop at Eagle Farm ahead of his departure for the Group One Lightning Stakes in Melbourne.With race rider Shane Scriven aboard, Burdekin Blues worked anti-clockwise over 800 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday morning.The five-year-old wasn't asked to make time with trainer Barry Baldwin seeking only to give the son of Sequalo valuable experience working the Melbourne direction.Burdekin Blues was scheduled to b

Star Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues has been given a pass mark following a special gallop at Eagle Farm ahead of his departure for the Group One Lightning Stakes in Melbourne.

With race rider Shane Scriven aboard, Burdekin Blues worked anti-clockwise over 800 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday morning.

The five-year-old wasn't asked to make time with trainer Barry Baldwin seeking only to give the son of Sequalo valuable experience working the Melbourne direction.

Burdekin Blues was scheduled to be floated to Melbourne last Tuesday but Baldwin took no risks with heatwave conditions in the south and cancelled the trip.

"He's flying to Melbourne on Monday night," Baldwin said.

The Group One Lightning (1000m) is at Flemington on Saturday week.

Baldwin rates Burdekin Blues a superior horse than he was when last in Melbourne where he won the Grazia Stakes (1100m) down the straight at Flemington on Oaks Day in November.

However, he is still cautious about his ability to handle a bend going in the Melbourne direction which he will need to do after the Lightning.

"He's got to go around the corner this time and it's completely different," Baldwin said.

"I got special permission to work him on Saturday morning the reverse way and he seemed to handle it OK.

"He wasn't asked to make time but he got a little lost over the back.

"He still looks a little at sea and he may need more education the other direction."

Scriven gave Burdekin Blues a pass mark after the workout and said he wasn't overly concerned with him handling the Melbourne turns.

"I couldn't get him on his Melbourne leg but he galloped around the bend okay," Scriven said.

"It was a pass mark and I'm not too worried about him going the Melbourne way."

Burdekin Blues has started only twice since his last Melbourne appearance winning the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben last month before his sizzling win in the 900-metre Bat Out Of Hell Quality at the Gold Coast on January 2.

Baldwin has all but ruled out the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 7 for Burdekin Blues.

"He's capable of mixing it with the best sprinters in Australia over 1000 metres but not over 1200 metres," Baldwin said.

"At this stage I doubt he'll run in the Newmarket but he could run in either the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield or William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley after the Lightning.

"After that he may go back to run in Sydney but he won't be around for the Brisbane winter carnival."