But exactly where in Australia Terror To Love will go should be clearer after today's group 3 Northern Southland Cup at Ascot Park.
The three-time New Zealand Cup champion is returning for the 2700m feature race he won in a successful southern sojourn last year.
Paul Court, who trains the brilliant son of Western Terror with his father, Graham, said the race was an ideal lead-up for the bigger challenges across the Tasman - be it the Hunter Cup or the Interdominions, or both.
''It worked in well with the programme. It's a good place to start off, with the Interdoms and other targets in mind,'' Court said.
''He's travelled down there a few times now. He stays at Tom Kilkelly's, and he looks after us pretty good, and he settles in good there.''
Terror To Love's last serious hit-out was at the Ashburton trials last week, downing Instead Of, Smolda and Eric Clapton in 3.01.1 for the 2400m.
''The sectionals were nothing to go by because it was a strong wind in the run home at Ashburton that day, so I wouldn't take too much notice of the times.
''He's trained on good. We're pretty happy with where he is,'' Court said.
Terror To Love opened as the favourite for today's race but Court warned punters the champion was not at peak fitness.
''He's definitely not primed right down for this race - it's like a stepping stone. Whatever happens, happens.
''We'll take this run, and as soon as he gets over this run and gets home, we'll see how he's coping and decide as to where and when we go next.''
Firstly, he needs to get past Arden Rooney, who is the sole starter off the front line today, getting a 25m head start on Terror To Love. The TAB installed the Tapanui-bred and owned 4yr-old as second-favourite, and Court reckons Arden Rooney is the one to chase after his breathtaking 11-length win at Ashburton on Boxing Day.
''I was just talking about that to a mate. He is race-hardened and he won well at Ashburton. I think he'll be the hardest to roll, to be honest. He'll just step and keep running.''
The major question for Terror To Love for the rest of the season is where in Australia he will head to.
As a stallion prospect, the Australian market is still for the taking for Terror To Love as he has struggled with the large, firm track at Menangle.
That leaves Paul Court, at least, angling towards the Hunter Cup at Melton in Victoria on February 1, rather than contesting a heat of the Interdominions at Addington in mid-February before heading to Sydney for the final on March 2.
''Everything's still undecided. We don't really know.
''But I think Melton, to be fair, is a lot different track and surface to Menangle.
''Menangle is very hard and he's always had sensitive feet.''
`[The Hunter Cup] is a two-mile [3200m] stand and there's probably no horse in the world that has a better two-mile record than him.''
Recent arrival Johny Rock, a leading 3yr-old in North America last year, gained a solid pass mark from Court following his second behind Helena Jet at the trials at Addington on Monday, his first public appearance in the southern hemisphere.
''He just bowled along good and it was just the perfect hit-out for him, time-wise.
''We'll go to Ashburton on Tuesday for another lot of trials and after that, we don't really know what we're doing. There's hardly any mobile races for his class throughout the country.
''It would be ideal to have a race around home before we tackle the Chariots Of Fire [at Menangle on March 2].
Northern Southland Cup, fixed odds market.- 1, Arden Rooney $2.80; 2, Beach Bunny $18; 3, Jimmy Johnstone $17; 4, Franco Ledger $6; 5, Glencoe V C $31; 6, Jason Rulz $9; 7, Four Starzzz Flash $21; 8, Terror To Love $2.20.
