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Sydney’s premier jockey James McDonald got a “feel” of promising Hawkesbury colt Blaze A Trail in a Rosehill Gardens barrier trial this morning.

And trainer Matt Vella is hoping he will stick with him when he opens his three-year-old season in most likely the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) against his own age there on August 29.

Blaze A Trail , though beaten clearly, wasn't put under pressure and ran home well to finish third to Cisco Bay in the quickest of two 1030m Open trials on a "Heavy 8" surface.

"Blaze A Trail's owner Sir Owen Glenn likes to have James ride his horses when they run in the better races," Vella explained this evening.

"James was very happy with how Blaze A Trail trialled this morning, and so was I.

"He was very strong through the line and will take benefit from that hitout.

"I will trial Blaze A Trail again either at home on August 17 or Rosehill a day later, and I'm hoping James will stay with him and then make a decision about riding him when he goes to the races.

"At this stage, the Ming Dynasty is shaping as his return race."

Blaze A Trail, a son of multiple Group 1 winner Criterion, finished third on debut to then stablemate Dame Giselle in the $1m Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill last November when prepared at Royal Randwick by Peter and Paul Snowden.

Since being transferred to Vella's Hawkesbury stable, he is unbeaten from two starts, breaking through on his home track in a 1300m Maiden on June 7 and then humping 61kg to an impressive Newcastle 2YO Handicap (1600m) success on July 4.

Vella gave Blaze A Trail eight days away from the stable after his Newcastle victory.

"He is a big gross colt and I didn't want to give him too long out, especially with the spring racing just around the corner," Vella said.

"The dream is to run him in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, but he has to continue to improve to show us that he deserves an opportunity to go there."

The $1m Spring Champion (2000m) will be run at Randwick on October 10.

Provided Blaze A Trail pleases Vella in the Ming Dynasty, he will take the traditional Spring Champion path of the Listed Dulcify Stakes (1500m) and Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) – both at Rosehill – on September 12 and 26 respectively.