Brisbane trainer Kelso Wood has always insisted Sizzling is a class horse.

Sizzling will be aimed at the Cox Plate. Photo by: Daniel Costello.

In fact, Wood rates Sizzling so highly that this spring he will test him on one of the biggest stages Australian racing has to offer, the Cox Plate (2040m).

Wood confirmed on Brisbane’s Radio TAB this morning the rising four-year-old will be aimed at the $3 million weight-for-age feature which will take place at Moonee Valley on October 26.

Wood believes Sizzling’s ability to relax in races before swooping home make him an ideal Cox Plate candidate and said he will head there via the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5.

The son of Snitzel is now in the paddock ahead of his spring campaign after running seventh in Saturday’s $1.36 million Stradbroke Handicap.

Sizzling failed to show his best early in his winter preparation but silenced plenty of critics when producing a big win in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas in the lead-up to the Stradbroke.

A winner of seven of 17 starts, he was a juvenile star last winter, taking out Brisbane’s two-year-old triple crown including the Group 1 TJ Smith.

The Cox Plate campaign will be Sizzling’s second trip to Melbourne after he finished unplaced in two starts last spring.

While Sizzling’s winter carnival is over, Wood still has one more chance at a Group 1 this season.

Recent stable addition Spirit Song, who finished a luckless ninth in the Stradbroke, will head to next weekend’s Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).

The five-year-old mare was a dual Group 2 winner for former trainer Aaron Purcell.

Wood said fellow Stradbroke runner Belltone will be aimed at the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on June 29.