STARS WARMING UP FOR WINTER GOALS
TOP three-year-old Ef Troop has headlined barrier trials by several winter carnival hopes in their first public hitouts since spells.
Ef Troop was having his first serious test since October and, after being caught three deep early, had far too much pace over 840m for a handy field of open company horses at Doomben yesterday.
Trainer Tony Gollan said Ef Troop would have another trial before going to the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben on April 20.
“He did what we wanted and that trial should bring him along nicely,” he said.
Gollan was also happy with the efforts of A Man To Match and Country Cocktail.
He is hopeful A Man To Match, who ran on from last for third in his trial, will measure up to the Group 1 Queensland Derby.
Smart sprinter Whypeeo showed he had taken no harm from a Melbourne spring campaign with an impressive win in a Gold Coast trial on Monday.
Whypeeo won a 1000m hitout in 58.34 which was slightly faster than classy mare Volkoff in her heat win.
Stradbroke Handicapbound Cadogan was second to Volkoff but turned in a good trial coming from second last on the turn.
Trainer Bryan Guy is pleased with prolific winner Volkoff who is set to return to racing at Eagle Farm on April 13 in what will probably be her last campaign.