Barry Lockwood to test three-year-olds
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 Saturday’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 Three Bracelet and Naked in the Group Three Gunsynd Stakes with both earmarked for bigger things.
The Bracelet is usually run at the Gold Coast as a lead-up to the Group One Queensland Oaks.
But with the Oaks run a week earlier this year The Bracelet is also a week earlier and 200m shorter at Doomben.
Lockwood is looking at the Group Two Doomben Roses and the Oaks with Susurri who has been one of the better local three-year-olds this season.
She won at Doomben three starts ago and struck trouble when well beaten against older horses at the Sunshine Coast last start.
Naked ran a strong second behind Hang in the Toowoomba Guineas over 1600m three weeks ago.
“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 and look for something easier later on.”