A Rosehill trial on Tuesday will play a key role in determining whether King Of Pop heads to the Gold Coast for a lucrative Magic Millions slot.

The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained three-year-old is scheduled to trial over 1030m and a forward showing could be enough to secure a start in the $3 million The Sunlight (1100m) on January 10.

The Sunlight is a slot race for three-year-olds and was staged for the first time last year.

King Of Pop showed significant ability during his two-year-old season, winning on debut at Warwick Farm before claiming the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) in Canberra.

He subsequently contested the Group 1 Golden Slipper, finishing 12th behind Marhoona, before returning to Randwick to run second in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).

However, a spring campaign failed to unfold as hoped and after three below-par efforts, the decision was made to geld the colt.

“He just didn’t quite come up,” Alexiou said.

“He has always been a really quiet horse, but he was racing a bit keen and not finishing off.

“He has been gelded now, so hopefully we see the King Of Pop of old.

“He has been going alright at home, and he trialled in fair time the other day.

“He will be out to have a searching trial on Tuesday and see where he’s at.”

King Of Pop was last seen finishing second in a Warwick Farm 799m trial on December 8 and Tuesday’s trial will be decisive.

Should he earn a slot, The Sunlight would mark his first run of the campaign.

“There has been (interest), so he will be out to do a bit, and we’ll get a line on how he’s going and make sure he warrants a trip up there and is going to be competitive,” Alexiou said.

Jay Ford will take the ride in Tuesday’s trial.

Punters monitoring King Of Pop’s Magic Millions prospects can follow betting markets through the Australian betting sites list.