Trainer Matthew Dunn’s first impressions of two-year-old The Lions’ Gate were anything but flattering.

While the son of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver made it to the early season barrier trials, he was beaten almost 20 lengths in a three-horse field.

Dunn tipped him straight out for a lengthy spell and happily, when the juvenile returned, he was ready to be a racehorse.

“Early days, he didn’t show anything at all. He was a bit hopeless,” Dunn said.

“It was just maturity, he wasn’t ready.

“He couldn’t cope, he couldn’t quicken properly, he couldn’t get it together but this prep he’s really turned things around.”

The Lions’ Gate made his debut on the Kensington track last month and from a wide draw, he was caught three and four-deep throughout, finishing out of the placings but never shirking his task.

With a cosier run at Canterbury, he hit the line resolutely to be beaten a length by the more experienced Hell I Am over 1100m.

A distance rise to 1400m in Saturday’s Furphy Handicap shapes as ideal, as does as 10-day turnaround.

“There is a bit of a wrap for the winner (Hell I Am) and another 50 metres, with the way he was finishing, he probably nearly gets to it,” Dunn said of The Lions’ Gate last run.

“He’s an exciting horse, hence the reason I stepped him straight into a Saturday race.

“He hasn’t missed a beat. He is a gross, big, heavy horse so the shortish turnaround should suit his physique.”

The Lions’ Gate handled a heavy track at Canterbury, so Dunn had no issues with him on a similar surface at Rosehill.

A Magic Millions purchase, he could be aimed towards next year’s Gold Coast carnival if he continues to progress.

Dunn is anticipating an improved effort from Go Troppo when he takes on Gloaming Stakes winner Head Of State in the Vinery Stallions Handicap (1500m) after a last start “trainwreck”.

“He got interference at the 800 then again at the 600 and in the straight. Nothing went right, it was a complete forgive run so he will bounce back,” Dunn said.

Head Of State is back at the races for the first time since tailing out in the Spring Champion Stakes in October when he pulled up with a heart issue.