Trainer Les Gordy is hopeful former barrier rogue Captain Bond can stake a claim for the Cleveland Bay Handicap during the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival when the four-year-old tackles the Open Handicap at Townsville on Thursday.

A pair of Group 1-winning riders have labelled Gold Coast hoop Jag Guthmann-Chester as the most underrated jockey in the Sunshine State.

Townsville trainer Les Gordy saddled his first Brisbane starter in the Country Stampede at Doomben earlier this month and now hopes to book a return trip south for the $500,000 Magic Million Country Cup with Captain Bond at the Gold Coast on January 13.

After taking a four month break from race riding to get his weight at a manageable level, talented apprentice hoop Jasper Franklin is as eager as he has ever been to get his career back on track.

Peter Robl is the latest high-profile southern trainer to make a move to Queensland, with the former top hoop set to commence operations on the Gold Coast from this weekend.