The moment of truth will soon arrive for up-and-coming star Burdekin Blues who is back in work ahead of his tilt at Group One glory in Melbourne in the autumn.Burdekin Blues has been in work with trainer Barry Baldwin for six weeks following a short break after he silenced critics who doubted his ability past 1000 metres when he scored over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm in August.The son of Sequalo scored in spectacular fashion with a 4-1/2 length margin over Group One placegetter Sashenka.A number

The moment of truth will soon arrive for up-and-coming star Burdekin Blues who is back in work ahead of his tilt at Group One glory in Melbourne in the autumn.

Burdekin Blues has been in work with trainer Barry Baldwin for six weeks following a short break after he silenced critics who doubted his ability past 1000 metres when he scored over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm in August.

The son of Sequalo scored in spectacular fashion with a 4-1/2 length margin over Group One placegetter Sashenka.

A number of high-profile jockeys, including Danny Nikolic, rate Burdekin Blues a star in the making but he still had some detractors before he scored for the fifth time in his nine-start career last outing.

Stablemate Simplest, who Baldwin campaigned in Sydney during the spring, is also back working preparing for a shot at the Magic Millions Sprint (1000m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.

Baldwin is pleased with both sprinters and is considering giving Burdekin Blues one start in Brisbane ahead of his Melbourne campaign.

Burdekin Blues is being directed towards the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington and Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield before a possible shot at the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

Baldwin is yet to decide if Burdekin Blues will be given a barrier trial in Brisbane before resuming.

"He's coming along steady but I haven't made up my mind yet if I will barrier trial him before he resumes," Baldwin said.

"I might give him one run here before he goes to Melbourne and I want to give him a run at Flemington over 1000 metres just to give him a look at the track before the Lightning.

"Everything is good with him but he's not happy at the moment with the wet weather we've been having.

"If he measures up in the Lightning then he'll go on to the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket."

Baldwin, who won last season's Brisbane trainers' premiership for a second time, is no newcomer to taking horses to Melbourne.

"I've had a few horses like La Montagna, Arimathea and Fine Action go to Melbourne but I've never had a winner," he said.

"Arimathea ran fourth to Oliver Twist in the Blamey Stakes in 2000 and he should have won that day."

Baldwin was not disappointed with Simplest's performances in Sydney where he finished fourth to Fritz's Princess in the Group Two The Shorts (1100m) and 10th to Keen Commander in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1100m), both at Randwick last month.

"It was a good run on the wet track in the Shorts and then he was caught about eight deep and it was only an ordinary run from him in the Lightning," he said.

"But he had lightened off a lot before the Lightning which tells the story."

Simplest was bought at a Lloyd Williams dispersal sale after beginning his career in Melbourne where his claim to fame was being runner-up to superstar Weekend Hussler in a 1300m restricted race at Sandown in September last year.