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Trainer Darren Weir believes Whispering Brook could be the pick of his six entries for the G2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday.

Weir’s other entries include last year’s G1 Toorak Handicap winner Land Of Plenty but the trainer feels Whispering Brook holds a fitness edge after her last start win in the G3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

"She’s done really well,’’ Weir reported.

"She’s had a couple of runs under her belt and Land Of Plenty is obviously first-up and will benefit from the run.

“I would say she will have the fitness edge on him."

Weir also plans to start Fifty Stars in the Australia Stakes before a tilt at the G1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next month.

Meanwhile Weir was delighted with how brilliant sprinter Nature Strip performed in a trial at Camperdown on Monday despite finishing second behind Our Crown Witness.

"Everything has been focused on getting him to settle," Weir said. “Once Our Crown Witness wanted to race him a bit he got his head up and wanted to over-race.

“But when the other horse got in front of him he dropped his head and followed her for the rest of the trial. He was doing everything right.”

Weir said Nature Strip could resume in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on February 2 before a tilt at the G1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 16.