Group 1 winner Jonker stepped out at the Doomben trials on Thursday morning in preparation for the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), which will be run at Caulfield on February 26.
The Tony Gollan-trained six-year-old last raced on October 22, when he defeated the likes of Bella Nipotina and Ingratiating to take out the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
The entire will now head back to Melbourne for a shot at winning another Victorian Group 1 race.
The son of Spirit Of Boom sat outside the talented Weona Smartone in the 1000m Open Trial and was asked for an effort by Jim Byrne, but he was no match for the race-fit Weona Smartone, who led all of the way to win by just over a length.
The heat was run and won in 59.28 seconds, with the last 600m completed in 34.79 seconds.
Weona Smartone had his colours lowered in his most recent start, running fifth of eight in a 1000m Open Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on January 29.
The David Vandyke-trained five-year-old had won his past eight starts and was sent out as a drifting +190 favourite, but he faded to finish 3.5 lengths behind Niedorp and Je Suis Belle.
Gollan had a strong hand in Heat 4, with three of the six runners under his care.
Recent stable acquisition Tahitian Dancer finished off nicely to run third, while last year’s Eye Liner Handicap winner, Snitch, got going late to finish fifth of six.
Kelly Schweida‘s Kalpana did her best work late to run fourth in the trial as she gears up for her third racing campaign.
Jonker is currently a +1200 chance with Bovada in Oakleigh Plate betting, with Byrne set to travel to Melbourne to ride the Queenslander.
Unbeaten mare Marabi dominates the market at +140, while Minhaaj and Paulele share the second line at +500 apiece.