Promising three-year-old Man From Oz will take an important step towards a winter carnival campaign when he lines up from a horror barrier at Doomben on Saturday.Man From Oz, who will be ridden by Chris Munce in the Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap, will head to the paddock for a short break immediately after his 1350-metre assignment.Trainer Kelso Wood is hoping to win his first Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June with the son of General Nediym.Man From Oz looked well above aver

Promising three-year-old Man From Oz will take an important step towards a winter carnival campaign when he lines up from a horror barrier at Doomben on Saturday.

Man From Oz, who will be ridden by Chris Munce in the Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap, will head to the paddock for a short break immediately after his 1350-metre assignment.

Trainer Kelso Wood is hoping to win his first Group Two Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June with the son of General Nediym.

Man From Oz looked well above average winning a maiden at Doomben on December 8 when ridden by Gold Coast jockey Jason Taylor.

The heavy track that day may have worked in his favour but the gelding showed it was no fluke when he came out next start to score another impressive win over 1400 metres at the Gold Coast on December 18.

Man From Oz failed to qualify for the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast earlier this month but it hasn't stopped Wood from dreaming of winning a major race during the winter.

"This will be his last run before I give him a short break," Wood said.

"He'll be set for the winter races and the Queensland Guineas looks the best race.

"He's very promising but I thought he was unlucky not to win last start when he was held up for a run."

Man From Oz was beaten just a length when a last-start fourth to Elle Majesty over 1400m at the Gold Coast on January 3.

Wood, who will use a tongue tie on Man From Oz, wasn't fazed when he drew barrier 17.

"The alley won't worry him. He gets back anyway," he said.

Munce's decision to stick with Man From Oz is interesting as he could have ridden impressive last-start maiden winner Epic who has drawn barrier three.

Epic was close to death with a high temperature after he raced at Muswellbrook in March last year before recovering and being transferred to trainer Kelly Schweida.

"It was some sort of a virus and the stress of the race brought it to a head," Schweida said.

Epic was having only his second start for Schweida when he scored a crushing win over 1200 metres at Doomben on January 19.

"He looks like a (Queensland) Guineas horse to me and we're putting our toe in tomorrow to test the waters with him," Schweida said.

"He's got 1600 metres written all over him and he's a nice horse in the making.

"He's jumping to 1350 metres for the first time but I don't think it's a worry.

"His biggest problem is the rise in class from a maiden to an open three-year-old race."