The time for Now Or Later to prove her Myer Classic credentials will come in Saturday's Group II Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Now Or Later joined the Robert Smerdon camp last season after winning at Group III level in Ireland but has yet to place in three starts for the Caulfield trainer.
However, the daughter of Bushranger showed good signs when she was beaten less than a length resuming in the Group III How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 23.
Smerdon said the five-year-old's fitness level denied her a win or a placing in the How Now Stakes but the run and the step to 1400m will give Now Or Later every chance to improve at Flemington.
"She had a good run from the inside draw and at the 200(m), I thought she was going to win the race," Smerdon said.
"(Jockey) Ryan (Maloney) said she was going to run second at the 100(m) but she just peaked on her run but she only got beaten a length.
"I suppose they have all got to improve but the 1400m is more her trip too."
Smerdon said Now Or Later is on a path towards the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington in November and she has progressed well since her first-up run.
"It profiles much better for her at the distance second-up and she's had the acclimatisation thing now so she's ticking over pretty well," Smerdon said.
Ryan Maloney will stick with Now Or Later in the Blazer Stakes but the pair will need to negotiate the tricky barrier 13.
Sportsbet has Now Or Later at $14 in its early market on the $200,000 contest in which Missrock is the $4.80 favourite ahead of Petition and Prompt Response at $7.50.
