Lockwood tests pair

LIKE many Queensland trainers, Barry Lockwood will have a clearer idea of winter plans for his team after the Victory Stakes meeting at Doomben.

The better southern horses have started to arrive and tomorrow’s meeting traditionally gives the locals a good idea where they sit against the Sydney and Melbourne visitors.

Eagle Farm-based Lockwood has Susurri in the Group 3 Bracelet and Naked in the Group 3 Gunsynd Stakes with both earmarked for bigger things.

The Bracelet is usually run at the Gold Coast as a lead-up to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. But with the Oaks run a week earlier this year The Bracelet is a week earlier and 200m shorter at Doomben.

Lockwood is looking at the Group 2 Doomben Roses and the Oaks with Susurri who has been one of the better local three-year-olds this season.

“They are both handy against our Brisbane horses,” Lockwood said.

“If they show us something on Saturday they can press on otherwise we will scale back.”