ROCKHAMPTON trainer Adrian Coome will have last start North Queensland winner Steelz Time running in the Munce Racing Benchmark 70 Handicap (1630m) at Doomben on Saturday.
This means Coome has scratched the gelding from the Ray White Rural Queensland Highway Handicap (1350m) for which he was one of the higher weighted contestants.
Steelz Time will shoulder 54kgs in the Benchmark 70, considerably lighter than the 57.5kg he was allotted in the other event.
Coome has retained Scott Galloway for the mount on Steelz Time (Top Echelon-Tidy Trim-Honours List) after the pair proved best at the end of 1609m on July 25 in Townsville.
Steelz Time roared home from a rearward spot at the top of the Cluden straight to win narrowly, if impressively and claim his third major cheque in 16 outings.
In overnight markets Steelz Time ($26.40) was quoted at generous odds compared with the Mackay-trained Shiranda ($10.70), which he overpowered in Townsville.
Coome, a former jockey, will also start topweight Fomo (Pins-Misty) in the Gollan Racing Handicap (1200m).
Unlike his stablemate Fomo has not been a recent visitor to the winning stall having finished no closer than fifth in either of his past five runs dating back to mid-January.
However, his six wins and five minor placings has been enough enough to deposit $121,520 in the bank while also yielding a 78 Rating, which is superior to any of his Doomben combatants.
Jim Byrne, one of Queensland's most consistent riders, has a book of six rides. He will be aboard Court Rules (Country Highway Class 4, 1350m), Ponytales (Eureka Stud Handicap 1200m), Ignite The Light (Gollan Handicap 1200m), Polemic (Munce Racing 1630m) Ruling Dynasty (Kelly Schweida Open 1630m) and Tokoriki Lad (Country Life Class 6 Plate 1350m).
Six horses have been withdrawn from the Country Life Plate but the field is still strong with 12 starters and the early TAB favourite is Churning ($2.60) to be ridden by Corey Bayliss for the Toby and Trent Edmonds stable from the Gold Coast.
The racing surface at Doomben has been rated as a Good 4 and the opening event on the nine-race card, which is supported by Queensland Country Life, gets under way at 11.28am.