Plans for King’s Troop remain fluid with trainer Gerald Ryan in no hurry to commit to a firm program.
The winner of one of his three starts, King’s Troop’s stocks rose in the spring without him setting foot on the racetrack.
His other two winter starts produced seconds behind Japonisme who stamped that form when he won the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
While King’s Troop has proved to Ryan he is ready to race, the trainer has several options.
“I’ve taken him out of the barrier trials on Tuesday because he galloped so well on Friday that he doesn’t need it,” Ryan said.
“There is a benchmark 85 at Randwick on Boxing Day. He could then go to the Magic Millions Sprint but there’s also the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford the day before.
“Or he may not race for a month and get ready for other races. We don’t have a firm program yet.”
While King’s Troop may not go to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions day, stablemate Peace Force is back on target after missing a recent start with an injury.
The mare bruised a joint on the trip from Sydney to Brisbane where she was the pre-race favourite for the Lough Neagh Stakes on December 12 at Doomben.
“She has filly recovered and will go to the Gold Coast on Saturday for the Goldmarket with Kerrin McEvoy to ride,” Ryan said.
“Bachman will also go there.”
After being tried over distances as a three-year-old, a newly gelded Bachman won over 1200 metres at Randwick on December 5.
He will be aimed at the $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 9 with Peace Force to head to the Fillies and Mares (1300m), also worth $1 million.
