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The Lindsay Park training operation is taking a careful approach with stayer Rostropovich who will miss the spring. 

The former Aidan O'Brien-trained galloper suffered a fractured pelvis when finishing last behind Vow And Declare in last year's Melbourne Cup in his first campaign for Lindsay Park. 

Rostropovich underwent a thorough rehabilitation program, however Lindsay Park has decided to give the stayer a break to concentrate on an autumn campaign. 

Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig said Rostropovich had worked his way up to galloping as part of his rehabilitation before the decision was made to give him a spell on spring grass. 

"He's been good," Dabernig said. 

"We got him up to a certain level of fitness but we've decided to give him the spring in the paddock and have a crack at the autumn. 

"He hasn't got any issue, we just did not want to put him under that pressure in his first prep back. 

"We got him up to running 14 seconds to the furlong. He was doing that two sessions a week for a month and he had coped with it all perfectly. 

"If we put him out in the paddock now he'll be really well conditioned for an autumn campaign." 

Dabernig said the Group One Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington next March was likely to be a target. 

Lindsay Park is confident Rostropovich can make a successful return to the racetrack. 

Another import Kings Will Dream fractured his pelvis when pulled up in the 2018 Cox Plate at The Valley and returned the following spring to claim the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington less than 12 months later.