Gillian Heinrich’s smart filly Military Rose enjoyed a return to form at the Gold Coast on the weekend running the ideal trial for her clash with the world’s fastest horse Black Caviar in this Saturday’s BTC Cup.

General Nediym three-year-old Military Rose is one of three first acceptors in the $400,000 Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) for Gold Coast trainer Heinrich along with Audacious Spirit and Ghetto Blaster.

As a two-year-old Military Rose burst onto the Queensland racing scene winning her opening four starts including the prestigious $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic last year.

Resuming in March of 2010, she continued that stunning form with a three length victory in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes before running a disappointing 11^th behind Crystal Lily in the richest juveniles’ showdown, the Golden Slipper.

During the spring Military Rose failed to place in any of her three starts and it looked like more of the same dissatisfaction for her connections this year when she ran second last first-up in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill on March 26.

Back to her home track at the Gold Coast on Saturday, however, Military Rose finally bloomed again and recreated memories of her Magic Millions Classic success with a promising half-length victory over Celtic Dancer in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m).

Heinrich has confirmed Military Rose is still set to be sold at the Magic Millions June Broodmare Sales, but not before a run in the BTC Cup at Doomben this Saturday.

“She’s done enough for us and she’s my favourite horse,” Heinrich said.

“But she’s also a very valuable mare.”

A winner of six of her 11 starts to date, Military Rose has already amassed over $1.6 million in prize money and will be looking for a Group 1 win to add to her name in the BTC Cup to further boost her value as a broodmare if accepted.

The opening Group 1 showdown of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, the BTC Cup is shaping up as a scintillating spectacle as Peter Moody’s superstar mare Black Caviar vies for her 13^th straight win.

Caviar is the raging $1.16 favourite to take out the BTC Cup followed in the pre-field odds by the hulking Hay List ($5.50), winner of the All Aged Stakes in Sydney last start.

Military Rose is rated a $51 outsider while stablemates Audacious Spirit, the three-year-old Bel Esprit colt sharing the same sire as Black Caviar, and seven-year-old Ghetto Blaster look unlikely acceptors and as such are paying $201 a piece.