Trainer David Murphy believes Shotacross The Bow is still six months away from being at his best as he prepares to give the three-year-old a stakes test at the Gold Coast.

Shotacross The Bow was a late-season star of Brisbane two-year-old racing over sprint to mile distances.

He returned to racing with a comfortable win over a good quality three-year-old field at the Sunshine Coast on December 6, prompting Murphy to give Shotacross The Bow his chance in stakes company in Saturday's Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1300m).

The trainer has even bigger races in mind next year.

"It is a big step up in class on Saturday but he deserves his chance in stakes company," Murphy said.

"Provided he races well we will press on to the Magic Millions Guineas two weeks later.

"But I have always thought he would be a Derby horse for me next year. I would love to win the Queensland Derby and I think he will be at his best around that time in June."

He said Shotacross The Bow had worked strongly on Tuesday and would settle closer to the pace on Saturday than in previous campaigns.

"At the Sunshine Coast he sat up just off the pace and finished far too strongly. I would expect him to be up there on Saturday," Murphy said.

"The runner-up in that race, Miri Miri, has since come out and won a good three-year-old race."

Murphy will also have the improving Mister Booze at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

"He is an emergency for the Goldmarket Handicap and will not be out of place if he gets a run," he said.

"But he is also in a benchmark race and should be hard to beat from barrier three.

"He has improved since his last-start win at Doomben and he might be ready to confirm his early potential."