Smiling Darling Downs trainer Tom Dougall went within a length of recording a rare training milestone on Saturday across regional Queensland.

Trainer Nick Walsh starts the new season full of confidence and is hopeful former Victorian Milo Man will bounce back to his best form at Rockhampton on Thursday.

Trainer Jack Bruce feels like a winner after his first full season of training and hopes to be in the winner’s stall at Doomben on Wednesday.

Promising apprentice Jake Molloy will dip his toes into city racing on Wednesday and believes once the new season commences later in the year, he will be able to hit the ground running.

A strong team of Queensland junior riders takes on the cream of the nation’s best apprentices when the National Apprentice Race Series continues at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.