Country Championship qualifier Sky Call is staying home for her final lead-up to the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 4.
Albury trainer Mitchell Beer has elected to start Sky Call on her home track on Thursday in the $75,000 Barlens City Handicap (1175m) rather than make the trip to Sydney for a Group 3 race at Rosehill on Saturday.
Beer nominated Sky Call, the last start winner of last month's Albury heat of the Country Championship over 1400m, for Saturday G3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
Beer said it was an easy decision to stay home after the barrier draw for the City Handicap.
"She has drawn well (barrier 2) at Albury and we don't have to travel. She looks the horse to beat on her home track," Beer said.
Beer said Sky Call has thrived since her Country Championships qualifier victory over Bennelong Dancer.
He sent the mare to the paddock for a freshen-up after the win to help offset the six weeks gap from the Albury heat to the lucrative final at Randwick.
"She has thrived since she has come back into the stable and is flying in her work," he said.
Beer has booked Teo Nugent to ride Sky Call in the City Handicap and is not concerned by the drop back in distance from 1400m to 1175m.
"The drop back in distance is not a concern. Drawing barrier 2 is perfect and Teo can stalk the speed.
"She is up against some tough opposition but if she is going to be any hope in the Championship Final she should be winning a race of this nature."