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It’s early days but Darren Weir already has some of his leading spring contenders up to speed after sending a team of his stars to Casterton for work outs on Monday.

The squad included Group One winners Black Heart Bart, Humidor and Big Duke and the exciting Caulfield Cup favourite Kings Will Dream.

"We're deep in the middle of winter but those spring horses are getting ready to go,” reported Weir’s assistant trainer Jarrod McLean.

"Black Heart Bart is great and he's on track to run in the PB Lawrence Stakes and the Memsie.

“Humidor had a stride around and we'll work back from a Cox Plate run with him and then probably the Cantala.

“Big Duke had a stretch of the legs and Kings Will Dream had his second gallop.”

European import Kings Will Dream has won all five of his Australian starts including the Listed Mornington Cup that secured him a ballot free place in the field for the Caulfield Cup in October.

"He is great, he's strengthened up and he's certainly taken that next step to acclimatize. His coat is already through and he looks outstanding,” McLean said of the progress Kings Will Dream has made during his spell.

The program McLean outlined for five-time G1 winner Black Heart Bart rules him out of consideration for the $13 million Everest at Randwick on October 13.

While he has become recognised as a 1400m-2000m performer the former WA star made his name as a sprinter and could have been looked on as a first-up contender for the Everest.

There was no sign at Casterton of Japanese import Brave Smash, already taken as an Everest runner for slot holder Waller Racing.

Meanwhile McLean believes the brilliant sprinter Nature Strip is a worthy Everest contender after his near record debut win for the stable ast Flemington last Saturday.

McLean has labelled Nature Strip as potentially the best sprinter to come into the stable.

"We've had Black Heart Bart and Voodoo Lad both run seconds in Newmarkets and also Brave Smash," said McLean.

"It's a bit hard to compare, but he's certainly the best sprinter I've had come through the yard in the last three years. He's the real deal."

Nature Strip is set to have his next start in the final of the Creswick Series at Flemington on Saturday week.

A new addition to the Weir stable is the talented galloper Theanswermyfriend, raced by Nature Strip's owner Rod Lyons.

Theanswermyfriend has won four of his 18 starts including the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington last spring.