Underrated sprinter Steel Zip will test his winter carnival credentials with a trip to Newcastle for next month's Group Three Newmarket Handicap if he performs satisfactorily at Doomben.Trainer Pat Duff is concerned Steel Zip is beginning to creep up in the weights after being allotted 57 kilograms for Saturday's Schaefer Store Open Handicap (1600m) and has earmarked the 1400-metre feature at Newcastle on March 21 for the four-year-old."He's been slowly getting up in the weights and if he wins o

Underrated sprinter Steel Zip will test his winter carnival credentials with a trip to Newcastle for next month's Group Three Newmarket Handicap if he performs satisfactorily at Doomben.

Trainer Pat Duff is concerned Steel Zip is beginning to creep up in the weights after being allotted 57 kilograms for Saturday's Schaefer Store Open Handicap (1600m) and has earmarked the 1400-metre feature at Newcastle on March 21 for the four-year-old.

"He's been slowly getting up in the weights and if he wins or runs well on Saturday he'll get even more," Duff said.

"If he wins again I'll freshen him up and send him down to Newcastle.

"He'll then get ready for the winter carnival races and I'd like to think he'd be a chance in the Stradbroke.

"The Stradbroke can be strong some years and not so strong other times."

The Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) will be run at Eagle Farm in June.

Steel Zip returned to his best last start with an impressive victory in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) at Caloundra on February 5.

At his previous start, Steel Zip finished a creditable fourth to Spirit Of Boom in last month's Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast.

"It wasn't a big margin he won by but it was a strong field," Duff said.

"He drew the rails and the race fell well for him. He took all the runs that came his way."

Steel Zip had also been nominated for Saturday's Remondis & Energywatch Open Handicap (1350m) before Duff decided to accept with the son of Canadian Silver in the longer race.

"I had to make a decision between the two and took myself back to his run in the Queensland Guineas last year," Duff said.

"He had the extreme outside barrier in the Guineas and was never better than four and five wide the whole trip.

"He ran fifth and Glen Colless said he was amazed he kept going to the line."

Steel Zip's only other start over 1600 metres was at his next outing when 10th to Shenzhou Steed on a slow track in the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas.

"That day he had barrier one and it was a bog track," Duff said.

"The inside was the last place you wanted to be."

Jockey Brad Stewart has been retained following his success on Steel Zip in the Sunshine Coast Cup.