Stampede will aim to secure his place in the Caulfield Cup with victory in Saturday's Group III Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer has been set for the race following a successful late autumn campaign that ended with consecutive
Bott said despite the son of High Chaparral being in such good form, the decision was made to go to the spelling paddock with the spring in mind.
"He'd done a super job for the campaign, starting at Goulburn and ending in a Group III race at Doomben," Bott said.
"We thought the Caulfield Cup was the race we'd love to target with him so we decided to stop his Queensland campaign to focus on giving him his best chance at the better quality staying races in the spring.
"Stopping when we did meant we could send him for a spell and then get him back in to prepare for a race like the Caulfield Cup."
Stampede resumed with a dominant on pace win over 1600m at Moonee Valley on September 9 and Bott said the five-year-old entire has progressed since.
"He was forward enough for Moonee Valley and we expected him to run very well," Bott said.
"The way he won that race gives us a lot of confidence and we'll see on Saturday how he copes against better opposition.
"He has improved and he'll be suited by the step up to 2000m and if he can win then he's guaranteed a run in the Caulfield Cup.
"He's nicely weighted at 53kg in the Cup so it would be great if he can get the job done on Saturday."
Beau Mertens rode Stampede first-up and will be in the saddle for the Naturalism Stakes.
