Trainer Bede Murray is hoping Coniston Bluebird shows enough this preparation to warrant steering him towards the AJC Australian Derby in the autumn.The Scenic colt returns to action in the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.Coniston Bluebird has not raced since his 13th to Augusta Proud in the Magic Millions two-year-old Classic at the Gold Coast in March.Two starts before that Coniston Bluebird stormed from last to get within a neck of the Gai Waterhouse-

Trainer Bede Murray is hoping Coniston Bluebird shows enough this preparation to warrant steering him towards the AJC Australian Derby in the autumn.

The Scenic colt returns to action in the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Coniston Bluebird has not raced since his 13th to Augusta Proud in the Magic Millions two-year-old Classic at the Gold Coast in March.

Two starts before that Coniston Bluebird stormed from last to get within a neck of the Gai Waterhouse-trained She's Meaner in the Wyong Slipper (1100m).

"We just want to test the waters with him and see where we can take him in the autumn," Murray said.

"I'd like to think he will show us enough in a couple of starts this campaign to warrant taking him to the AJC Derby (2400m)."

Coniston Bluebird has the topweight of 59kg, a weight Murray described as outrageous.

"Considering he's only win was a maiden at Kembla, it's bloody ridiculous," Murray said.

"He ran second in a restricted race (Wyong Slipper) ... they just rate them on what they might be rather than what they are, it's makes it very hard to bring horses through their grades."

Murray said Coniston Bluebird would take considerable improvement from Wednesday's run.

"I'm not expecting him to win because he's a little bit underdone," Murray said.

"I've refused to run any good horses on the B-grass at Kembla because it's so bad at the moment and so he's only had the one gallop on the course proper."

If Coniston Bluebird does make it to the AJC Australian Derby, he will be taking on the outstanding Predatory Pricer who is trained by Murray's son Paul.

The Street Cry colt is a half-brother to Takeover Target and won the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday following his victory in the Listed Ming Dynasty (1400m) a week earlier.

"He's a very good horse and it's great to see him going so well for Paul," Murray said.

"He'll be in the Derby and hopefully Coniston will be too, it's a nice race to have a couple of runners in."

Predatory Pricer is the TAB Sportsbet equal $5 favourite for Saturday week's Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick along with Rhyno Chaser and Caymans.

Murray won the 2001 AJC Australian Derby with Universal Prince.