The strength of the field Eight's A Party will meet in a support race at the Sunshine Coast pleases trainer Darren Bell who is keen to test him at stakes level.

Eight's A Party will be chasing his third win in a row when he tackles Saturday's Summerveld Stables Hcp (1800m).

The race looks to be a likely guide for races such as the Brisbane Cup, Ipswich Cup and Tattersalls Cup during the winter carnival.

Bell said the key to Eight's A Party, who won at Toowoomba last Saturday week, was keeping him fresh but also fit enough to run 1800-2000m races.

"The Toowoomba win was very good and he showed us what we had always thought about him. But this will be a very good test. In a way it is good Saturday's race has so much depth," Bell said.

"If he can beat these horses we will be on our way to stakes races. If not we can look for something a bit less."

Wagga Wagga Cup Gold winner Landlocked heads a quality group of rivals for Eight's A Party who is the TAB's early $3.30 favourite.

The Joe Cleary-trained Landlocked was the second elect on Friday at $4.