A trip north for the Doomben Cup 2017 could be next-up on the cards for the Gary Portelli-trained Testashadow if the honest galloper performs well in the Scone Cup this Friday.

Testashadow needs to win the Scone Cup on Friday to earn a shot at the 2017 Doomben Cup on May 20 in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.

A capacity field is engaged for the $200,000 Listed Darley Scone Cup (1600m) this season including Portelli’s in-form five-year-old Testashadow.

The son of Testa Rossa has run third in three of his latest four runs including the close effort when only a length off the winner Fabrizio and runner-up Moher in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) on April 29.

In the rematch at Scone on Friday, Testashadow faces off against the same two gallopers and rises a half-kilo to 57kg.

Apprentice Deanne Panya comes aboard once more and the two have work to do after the wide barrier 17 (possibly into 14) draw.

Hawkesbury Cup winner Fabrizio meanwhile goes up to 59kg and jumps from gate four, while the Darren Beadman-trained Moher is in gate nine with Kerrin McEvoy riding on 54kg.

Third at Randwick to McCreery in late February’s Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m), Testashadow also ran an eye-catching third just a quarter-length off It’s Somewhat at Rosehill in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) in March.

He couldn’t produce that same form however when 18^th to It’s Somewhat on April 1 during ‘The Championships’ in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Portelli though remains hopeful the horse can produce form similar to that at Hawkesbury when he races over the mile again in the Scone Cup, his performance in which will determine whether or not he presses onto the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

There’s a chance Testashadow will be extended out over more metres in Queensland targeting the $650,000 Group 1 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 20 if all goes well.

“If he wins the Scone Cup there is a case to go to Brisbane for the Doomben Cup,” Portelli told AAP this week.

“It’s aiming high but even if he doesn’t go to the races he will still go up there so he can spell with the sun on his back and then we’ll get him ready to go to the Magic Millions again [next January].”

Testashadow is no stranger to the Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival.

He narrowly won this year’s Magic Millions Cup (1400m), improving on a seventh to Lucky Hussler in the same race in 2016, and was runner-up in the 2015 Magic Millions Guineas as a three-year-old.

All-in Doomben Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au meanwhile has Doncaster Mile winner It’s Somewhat installed as the $4.50 favourite after the flying John O’Shea-trained galloper won the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6.

Testashadow meanwhile is way down the futures Doomben Cup odds paying $67.

To check out the full Scone Cup betting markets for Friday and to get in on the futures Group 1 odds for Brisbane over the coming weeks visit Ladbrokes.com.au.