Queensland speedster Burdekin Blues will continue to travel south for a tilt at Newmarket Handicap glory after a devastating display to win the Group Two Expressway Stakes at Rosehill.The Expressway win was Burdekin Blues' seventh from 11 starts and by far his most important with trainer Barry Baldwin using the 1200m feature as a yardstick for the future.Punters had faith he would handle the leap in class and sent Burdekin Blues out the $2.90 favourite and he gave them no cause for concern when

Queensland speedster Burdekin Blues will continue to travel south for a tilt at Newmarket Handicap glory after a devastating display to win the Group Two Expressway Stakes at Rosehill.

The Expressway win was Burdekin Blues' seventh from 11 starts and by far his most important with trainer Barry Baldwin using the 1200m feature as a yardstick for the future.

Punters had faith he would handle the leap in class and sent Burdekin Blues out the $2.90 favourite and he gave them no cause for concern when he jumped straight to the lead and controlled the race.

Gold Trail ($8) tried to stay with him but when Shane Scriven stoked Burdekin Blues up inside the final 250 metres, he went further in front.

Burdekin Blues had 2-1/4 lengths on Gold Trail on the line with Hurried Choice ($9.50) another half-length away third.

"We tipped him in the deep end to see what he could do," Baldwin said.

"And he did very well.

"He'll be on the float to Melbourne for the Newmarket now.

"This was his first test at weight-for-age. The only worry we have with him is that he is purely a dry track horse but that's it.

"It's early days yet and he's only in his second preparation but at the moment I rate him second to (Stradbroke Handicap winner) La Montagna as the best I've trained."

Scriven was also more than impressed with the four-year-old and hoped the Victorian handicappers were watching.

"If they gave him 54 kilos in the Newmarket, then I would be able to ride at that weight," he said.

"I hope they watched him. I would love to ride him in the Newmarket but with a 51 limit he might come in too light.

"He did what we hoped he would do today and had every excuse not to be able to.

"What I liked most about him was that he came back under me and relaxed beautifully.

"It was a huge step up and he handled it pretty well."

Depending on his Newmarket weight, Larry Cassidy is in line for the ride on Burdekin Blues and if it is too light for him, Baldwin will have no problems finding a rider.

Gold Trail, who had been aiming for four successive wins, pleased trainer Gary Portelli who will switch him back to his pet distance of 1100 metres.

"He will run in a race like the Challenge Stakes next," Portelli said.

"He's never won over 1200 metres so we will take him back to 1100."

The Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) is down the Flemington straight on March 7 with Baldwin planning to round off Burdekin Blues' preparation with a barrier trial rather than a race at the course.