Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie expects a vastly-improved performance from Rothera in the Listed Falvelon Quality at Eagle Farm and is hopeful the gelding can remain on track for a Sydney trip.Rothera, who rocketed Currie into national prominence with his Group Three Betfair Stakes victory on a heavy track at Caulfield in October, will have a change of rider with Paul Hammersley replacing apprentice Brent Evans in Saturday's 1200-metre feature."We decided to change riders and wanted Shane Scriven b

Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie expects a vastly-improved performance from Rothera in the Listed Falvelon Quality at Eagle Farm and is hopeful the gelding can remain on track for a Sydney trip.

Rothera, who rocketed Currie into national prominence with his Group Three Betfair Stakes victory on a heavy track at Caulfield in October, will have a change of rider with Paul Hammersley replacing apprentice Brent Evans in Saturday's 1200-metre feature.

"We decided to change riders and wanted Shane Scriven but he's riding in Melbourne on Saturday so we booked Paul Hammersley," Currie said.

Currie is still keen to travel Rothera interstate despite the five-year-old's lacklustre eighth to Gundy Son in his 1200-metre comeback at Eagle Farm on February 12.

He had hoped Rothera would be in Sydney earlier but ran out of time to get him ready for the Chipping Norton and Apollo Stakes and the Doncaster Mile also looks doubtful.

"If he goes away he'll probably just go for the Ranvet Stakes and come home," Currie said.

The Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) will be run at Rosehill on March 19.

Currie had a number of options planned in Sydney including the Group One Doncaster on April 16 but he feels Rothera is looking for longer than the famous Randwick mile (1600m).

"I don't know if he can win tomorrow but he's going good and I expect him to run a lot better than he did first-up," Currie said.

Oddly, Currie's confidence has been boosted by a wider barrier draw than he had when beaten in his return two weeks ago.

"He had barrier two that day and got caught up on the rails in traffic," he said.

"This time he's on the outside of the field in barrier 11 and the wider draw should suit him better.

"From there he'll be able to get back and hopefully get to the outside.

"He's a lot fitter than last run but it's a hard race."

Currie rates Essington from barrier three, and fellow Toowoomba sprinter Bold Glance who has the rails, as the main dangers.

"Essington looks pretty smart and won well last time and Bold Glance has been going good since he won the Magic Millions Cup," he said.

"My bloke will back up over 1600 metres next week and that run will determine if he heads to Sydney."

Bold Glance has been nominated for the Doncaster Mile and will have one more start in the Gold Coast Stakes (1200m) on March 19 to earn a trip away with stablemate poor Judge.