In-form Baylee Nothdurft has given himself a great chance of winning the Queensland metropolitan apprentices' premiership despite riding in the city for only seven months.

Nothdurft went to 29 city winners for the season when he drove Smokey Diamond ($6.50) home by a head to the favourite Kings Full ($2.60) in the TAB Plate (1615m) at Doomben.

He is now three in front of last season's leading junior rider Jag Guthmann-Chester who is on 26.

Nothdurft didn't have his first metropolitan ride until January but has been backed by several big stable in recent months.

Toowoomba-based Nothdurft also has plenty of support from trainers on the Darling Downs and Smokey Diamond's trainer Harry Richardson is one of them.

"I would love to win the title and it has been a good seven months. Lets hope it continues," he said.

Richardson has only four horses in work these days but has high hopes for Smokey Diamond.

"He came from last today and not many horses can do that at Doomben. I still think he is a preparation away from his best," Richardson said.

"I am looking forward to getting him out to a middle distance later on."