Patience and placement.

They are the two key lessons Craig Tyrrell learned during his six year tenure with revered Gold Coast trainer Alan Bailey.

"Place your horses in the right company, let them go through the classes and just be patient," Tyrrell said.

"You let the horse tell you where they're heading."

When Bailey decided not to renew his licence at the start of this season Tyrrell, who had been his foreman, opted to branch out on his own.

Along with the lessons taught by Bailey, Tyrrell also says the philosophies of Jack and Richard Freyer play an equally important part in his training methods.

Richard Freyer, best known as the conditioner of Leica Falcon who finished fourth in the 2005 Melbourne Cup, is based at Corowa in southern NSW, the same area in which Tyrrell was raised.

"I grew up not far from the Freyers at Corowa and as soon as I got my drivers' licence I was knocking on their door looking for a job," he said.

"They trained countless winners all around the place and I still keep in contact with Richard. We talk on the phone every week."

On Saturday Tyrrell saddles up promising mare Anna Lizzie, who was formerly trained by Bailey, in the Ormiston College Old Collegians Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.

The mare scored dominant wins at the Gold Coast in April and Ipswich in May and was shaping as a genuine winter carnival contender until an elevated temperature cut short her campaign.

Anna Lizzie impressed Tyrrell when she finished fourth in a barrier trial on August 27.

"It was a pretty soft trial and she's gone on well since then," Tyrrell said.

"Everything seems to be going in the right direction."

Tyrrell acknowledges the 1350 metres is likely to be too short for Anna Lizzie on Saturday but he still expects her to be highly competitive.

"They might be a bit sharp for her but they'll know she's there at the finish," he said.

"She can reel off a good sectional. She can settle back off the speed and come home with a wet sail."

Tyrrell believes Anna Lizzie will be at her best when she steps up to 1600 metres.

"She looks as though she'll run a nice mile but I wouldn't be surprised if she blows them off the park on Saturday," he said.

"She's got that X-factor about her."