Hopfgarten is back on a Doomben Cup path with trainer Robert Heathcote taking heart from the recent effort of rival Sir Moments in the Hollindale Stakes.

Heathcote thought Hopfgarten was out of contention for the Group One Doomben Cup on May 9 when he missed a run in the Hollindale at the Gold Coast last week.

However, after watching Sir Moments run a close second to Leebaz he has decided to give Hopfgarten his chance.

"I think most people accept that there isn't much between Sir Moments and Hopfgarten. He beat us last time we met but we had no luck and we have beaten him," Heathcote said.

"I think Sir Moments showed our horses are up to winning a race like the Doomben Cup."

Hopfgarten will now make his way to the Doomben Cup through Saturday's Toowoomba Cup (2100m).

It will be Hopfgarten's first attempt beyond 1600m but Heathcote is confident he will run it out strongly.

"He has been to Toowoomba once before in the Bernborough Handicap over 1600 metres," Heathcote said.

"He got caught in the wrong part of the track and should have won.

"Hopfgarten handled Toowoomba well enough and this is a lot easier than the Hollindale."

Heathcote is not concerned that Hopfgarten will need to back up in seven days to the Doomben Cup.

"He is a tough horse and I don't see why he won't," Heathcote said.

Heathcote's other Toowoomba Cup runner, Volkhere, will back up after an unlucky third in the Chairmans Hcp (2200m) at the Gold Coast meeting.

"I had a frank discussion with jockey Tegan Harrison after she didn't lead as I wanted on Volkhere at the Gold Coast," he said.

"But she has kept the ride and I would expect her to be a bit more aggressive this time."

The Heathcote-trained Excellantes is topweight in the Listed Weetwood Hcp (1200m) and will be having his first start on the tricky Toowoomba course.

"It is the sort of race which will suit him at this stage of his career," Heathcote said.

"He probably isn't up to the top Group horses but he is always a chance in this type of race."

"One thing we don't want is too much rain for him."