The seven-year-old last raced in February 2022, before he suffered a setback.

The son of A Rocknroll Dance had three starts in his 2022 campaign for two wins a second.

His 2022 campaign came off the back of another long layoff of 21 months.

Yesterday's trial was a good examination of how far advanced Franco Ecuador was on the path to his return, where he met proven performers Pinny Tiger, Born To Boogie and Miss Boudica.

Franco Ecuador, driven by Mitchell Miller, finished 10.4m adrift of heat winner Pinny Tiger in 1:55.3.

Trainer Kim Prentice said he was relieved Franco Ecuador got through the trial unscathed.

"I was more nervous going to trials last night than I have been going to the races the last 12 months," Prentice told TABradio.

"It was February two years ago his last run at Gloucester Park and he won and did a suspensory that night.

"We've been doing solid work with him.

"He's had plenty of miles under his belt and I said to Mitchell 'I don't care if he wins or runs last in the trial, whatever he does I want him doing it on the bit'.

"He's broken 55 home and Mitchell was full of praise for the horse when he got back.

"The first thing I did when I walked out the door this morning was look at his legs and they were good."

Franco Ecuador has built up a promising record of five wins and two placings from nine starts, including a third to Patronus Star in the 2020 WA Derby.

The Michael Brennan-trained Pinny Tiger is primed for his return to racing Friday week, following the impressive trial.

Pinny Tiger was unable to win in three starts last campaign on his return from the east coast.

Brennan said he was pleased with the gelding's trial, but indicated there were no specific plans on where he heads this campaign.