Trainer Matthew Smith has plotted a clear course for Aethelflaed, starting with a run in Saturday’s MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield as she builds towards a Brisbane campaign and a potential spring Cups tilt in Melbourne.

The plan includes a 2400m lead-up run in Queensland ahead of her primary winter target, the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.

Smith has long held ambitions to aim Aethelflaed at the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, and hopes this campaign will launch her into that class.

She looked a serious spring prospect in 2023 before a tendon injury halted her progression, not long after she finished second to Zardozi in the Group 1 Victoria Oaks (2500m).

“I’ve now got to try and get her into this year’s Cups seeing what Zardozi did last year,” Smith said.

“I’m excited to see what she might do over two miles. I think she’s a genuine two-miler.

“She needs some racing to get her rating up to 100, and you never know what might happen.”

Aethelflaed returned from her layoff with a determined win in a 2000m Class 1 at Canberra on April 18. Smith was satisfied with her performance, noting her long prep.

“It was a good effort, but she was in work for a while to be fair and she had a good base on her,” Smith said.

“We wanted to go somewhere to try and get a win and thankfully she was eligible for a Class 1 and it got a run into her.

“She’ll run a race on Saturday, but I expect them to be too sharp for her, but then she’ll go 2400 metres and then she’ll step up to 3200 metres into the Brisbane Cup as well.”

Smith is also looking to have True Marvel in the Brisbane Cup after he ran fifth to Smokin’ Romans in the Warrnambool Cup (2350m).

He’ll next contest the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 17, a race that grants the winner automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup (3200m).