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By Brad Gray

John O’Shea will be hoping his plan to qualify Spectroscope for the Doncaster Mile via the “backdoor” will come to fruition on Saturday in the Group Three Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill.

The four-year-old import was impressive winning on his Australian debut, getting the better of handy mare Extensible.

Spectroscope's Australian debut

“He steps up in grade here but he gets significant weight relief and he’s trained on beautifully,” said O’Shea.

“He’s really adapted to the Australian conditions in his work and I don’t think the wet ground holds any fear for him.”

Meanwhile, fellow import Floodlight, who lines up in the Group Three Neville Sellwood Stakes, may have not stolen headlines like Spectroscope after his Australian debut but there was plenty to like about his closing eighth in the Ajax Stakes.

“First up he was excellent at 1500m. He’s stepping up to a more effective trip and he worked very well on heavy ground here this morning (Wednesday),” said O’Shea.

“He’s probably one run from being spot on but I still think he can be effective.”

Floodlight did his bets work very late in the Ajax

Ambience is Godolphin’s second runner in the Neville Sellwood, backing up from Saturday’s Epona Stakes where she ran second to Consommateur.

“She got herself back into the game last week when she just got run down. She should be able to box seat and with no weight can hopefully go one better.”

Check out the fields for Rosehill on Saturday