South Australian colt Hucklebuck has been spelled after his failure in the Australian Guineas, in preparation for a crack at the Brisbane winter carnival.

Hucklebuck started favourite in the Group 1 mile at Flemington, but finished unplaced behind Shamus Award and pulled up with mucus in his throat.

The 3-year-old will be in the spelling paddock for 4-weeks, before a likely tilt at the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

“There’s the Stradbroke or any of the better three-year-old races – we won’t have trouble finding a good race for him,” Stokes told Racing Network.

Trainer Philip Stokes believes the jury is still out as to whether Hucklebuck is capable of running a strong 1600m.

“We settled a few pairs further back than we wanted to on Saturday, but in the end I would have to say there’s a query as to whether he runs a mile or not,” said Stokes.