A lucrative prizemoney pool has swayed trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young to send Brayden Star to Saturday’s Group 2 Zipping Classic, despite the Pakenham Cup shaping as the more suitable target.

Brayden Star, a Group 2 Herbert Power winner over the Caulfield 2400 metres, was originally heading straight to Pakenham. But after a solid Cranbourne gallop, Busuttin felt he needed a run beforehand.

“I think the Pakenham Cup is a good race for him… but the way he pulled up after the gallop… he was blowing, so we might have to send him around in the Zipping,” Busuttin said.

“It’s alright to have a spin around in a $750,000 race… but it’s probably just beyond his grasp at weight-for-age.”

The gelding wasn’t disgraced in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, though jockey Tim Clark felt 2600 metres on heavy ground stretched him.

Busuttin expects Saturday’s slightly shorter trip — and potential wet track — to help.

“He’s won on a heavy 10… a wet track won’t bother him,” he said.

Longer term, Brayden Star may head to New Zealand for the Auckland Cup in March.