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It was a special thrill for Roma trainer Craig Smith when he won the Battle Of The Bush Final with Art By Concorde at Eagle Farm in June.

It was a special thrill for Roma trainer Craig Smith when he won the Battle Of The Bush Final with Art By Concorde at Eagle Farm in June.

But, it will pale in comparison if the five-year-old can go on to win on Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast next month.

Smith will send Art By Concorde to Rockhampton on Thursday hopeful the five-year-old will earn a start in the $1 million QTIS Open over 1300 metres at the Gold Coast on January 13.

Art By Concorde is entered for the Magic Millions Country Cup qualifier over 1200 metres at Callaghan Park but is ineligible for the Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast.

"Because he won the Battle Of The Bush he was classed as winning a metropolitan race on a Saturday even though it was against country horses," Smith said.

"That makes him ineligible for next month's race but there's still a chance he may be there on the day.

"If he runs well at Rockhampton I might send him around in the QTIS Magic Millions race even though he could be up against horses like Rothfire.

"It'll be throwing him in the deep end but there's a good chance he'll go around."

Smith has booked heavy weight jockey Paul Hamblin to ride Art By Concorde.

Art By Concorde had won five straight before his last start third to the Olivia Cairns-trained Fire King in the Country Cups Challenge Final at Doomben on December 2.

"He ran third with a big weight in the Final and it was a very good run," Smith said.

"He may have run a bit better if the track was a bit firmer that day.

"Unfortunately, he's up a lot in the weights now and he's getting a little hard to place.

"He got over his last run well and has freshened up well so hopefully he's still got some more run in him this campaign."

Smith rates the Jared Wehlow-trained Letmeletgo, who also is entered for Mackay on Friday, as the main threat to Art By Concorde returning to winning form.

"I think the weight might stop him on Thursday but there's a couple of handy horses in the race including Letmeletgo if he goes there," Smith said.

"We only just beat Letmeletgo at Yeppoon when they met in the Country Cups Challenge qualifier last month."

Smith has been training for more than 30 years and his biggest wins were with his former star sprinter Harvey Lad.

Harvey Lad won 18 times in his 84 start career including two Listed races in 1995 and 1997.