Cairns bookmaker and motel owner Brian Jorgensen is pinning his hopes of a maiden Townsville Cup win with rising star Le Vizir during the 2023 Northern Winter Carnival.

Trainer Gareth Smith hopes former Sydney sprinter Le Vizir can solve a northern winter carnival dilemma when the gelding chases back-to-back victories in the Class 6 Handicap at Townsville on Tuesday.

Gareth Smith has returned to the regional Queensland training ranks with a bang and he might just have a carnival contender for the winter months of 2023.