Trainer John McArdle has revealed that Power Trip will be set for the 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes after he made his racing debut with an impressive win in the 2015 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington on Saturday.

Power Trip made his racing debut with an impressive victory in the 2015 Maribyrnong Plate. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

There was a big money offer made for Power Trip after he recorded an impressive win in a barrier trial over 800 metres at Cranbourne on October 10 and he enhanced his value with his Maribyrnong Plate victory, but McArdle told Racing Ahead that at this stage there were no plans to sell the two-year-old and he would return to the races in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26 before potentially progressing to races like the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

“He is eating really well, but he has gone to the paddock,” McArdle said.

“He will have three weeks off and then come back to get ready for the Blue Diamond races.

“We have had people enquiring and I said to them that you can make an offer, but I would be very surprised.

“Barry and Helen Mcilwaine were both very steadfast that we would give him a look at the autumn.

“At this stage I think that he will at least run in the Blue Diamond Preview and we will go from there.”

Power Trip has already shown a great deal of early ability, but McArdle is confident that the Hard Spun gelding still has plenty of improvement in front of him.

The two-year-old led from start to finish in the Maribyrnong Plate, but McArdle and jockey Craig Williams are both confident that he will be better suited when given the opportunity to settle off the speed in the early stages of his races.

“The horse is still quite immature and there looks to be good upside with him,” McArdle said.

“He would certainly be one of the better younger horses that I’ve had.

“Craig agrees with me that he will be a better horse ridden off the speed and Damien Mott, who has ridden the horse a few times in trials, is of the same opinion.

“He thinks that in six months’ time and with a bit of maturity that he will be a betting horse sitting off the speed and having one last crack at them.”

McArdle has not recorded a Group 1 victory since Hollow Bullet took out the 2005 edition of the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).