An interstate trip still beckons for Queensland sprinter Essington despite his last-start defeat with trainer Toby Edmonds making crucial gear changes for the Listed Falvelon Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Essington, who was trained by Darryl Hansen when he claimed the 1200m feature last year, stood flat-footed in the barriers in his first start for Edmonds when fourth to Mr Armstrong over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on February 11.

Edmonds believes the performance was way out of character and has attempted to prevent a repeat on Saturday by removing the blinkers and tongue-tie after experimenting without the gear in trackwork following the recent loss.

Essington has drawn the outside barrier 11 and will carry topweight of 59 kilograms but it doesn’t faze Edmonds.

“It’s a similar sort of race he’s up against before this race was washed out last week,” Edmonds said.

“He gets back anyway so the alley shouldn’t make a huge difference.

“He’s done well since his last run and has worked well without the two pieces of gear so I’m expecting him to run well.”

Edmonds had pencilled in a trip to Canberra for the Listed National Sprint (1400m) on March 11 but has now scrapped the race from his agenda.

The Group Three Newmarket Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle on March 21 is now the main target for Essington if he can rediscover his best form.

“Canberra is too close now for him so he won’t be running there,” Edmonds said.

“We’ll see what unfolds after Saturday but there’s still the Newmarket in Newcastle.”

Glen Colless is back aboard Essington after riding him when eighth to My Destiny in the Listed Lough Neagh takes (1350m) at Doomben in December.

Chris Munce had the mount on Essington last outing but is booked for rival Tierqualo.

Trainer Kelly Doughty was delighted with Tierqualo’s third to Mr Armstrong when the gelding finished just in front of the fast finishing Essington.

“He ran a good race considering I hadn’t been able to get the work into him after all the rain we had prior to his last run,” Doughty said.

“It looks like we might get a decent track for him tomorrow but we’ve had no luck with the barriers again.”

Tierqualo, who has drawn barrier eight, is likely to head to the $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes (1200m) on March 17 but won’t be a contender for the $150,000 Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m) at Toowoomba on March 29.

“If the Weetwood was on a grass track it might be different but I don’t want to run him on a cushion track,” she said.