Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues has been cleared of serious injury with trainer Barry Baldwin now aiming to target him at the Group One Galaxy in April.Burdekin Blues strained a ligament in his offside front knee which Baldwin believed contributed to the gelding's disappointing eighth to Nicconi in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last month.The knee was x-rayed but it was not considered too serious although it brought an early end to Burdekin Blues' autumn campaign in Mel

Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues has been cleared of serious injury with trainer Barry Baldwin now aiming to target him at the Group One Galaxy in April.

Burdekin Blues strained a ligament in his offside front knee which Baldwin believed contributed to the gelding's disappointing eighth to Nicconi in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last month.

The knee was x-rayed but it was not considered too serious although it brought an early end to Burdekin Blues' autumn campaign in Melbourne.

Baldwin had planned to run Burdekin Blues in either the Group One William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley eight days ago or Saturday's Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

"Thankfully, there was no bone damage and it was only some minor ligament trouble," Baldwin said.

"He was never lame but I sent him straight home and he's been in the paddock recovering.

"The vets have given a good report and he's coming along nicely."

Baldwin remains hopeful Burdekin Blues will be fit to return to Sydney for the Group One The Galaxy at Randwick in April.

Burdekin Blues hasn't raced in Sydney since finishing fifth to The Jackal in the Group Three Star Kingdom Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill in March last year.

At his only previous start in the harbour city Burdekin Blues scored an easy win in the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last February.

Meanwhile Queensland's star two-year-old of last season, Paprika, is in pre-training ahead of her winter carnival campaign.

Trainer Liam Birchley doesn't expect Paprika to return to his stables for another three weeks after she was forced to the paddock following her dismal failure in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington last October.

The daughter of General Nediym was later found to be suffering from heart "thumps".

"We decided to give her all the time she needed to get back to her old self," Birchley said.

"The specialist who saw her after the race said she would make a full recovery.

"I'm hopeful she'll come back better than ever this campaign."

Paprika had small bones chips removed from her front legs following her second to Phelan Ready in last year's Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.

Paprika is likely to make her return in the Mick Dittman Plate, a set weights race over 1000 metres for three-year-olds at Eagle Farm on April 24.

Phelan Ready and promising filly Kiss Me Katy also are being directed towards the Mick Dittman Plate.

Phelan Ready recently returned to work at Jason McLachlan's Caloundra stables ahead of a winter program which could include the Group One Doomben 10,000 and Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.