Trainer Kelly Schweida has taken an unusual step with his promising three-year-old Secret Harmony to get his Queensland Derby hopes back on track.

Schweida has elected to run Secret Harmony in a 1400m handicap at the Gold Coast on Saturday, dropping him back from 1800m.

Secret Harmony has been dogged by bad barriers and big weights but has still reaped a win, a second, a third and two fourths.

Schweida agrees the gelding has been consistent but is worried a run of wide barriers has taught him bad habits.

"We have had to go forward and he has been over-racing. If he goes that hard it will be a disaster in a middle-distance race," Schweida said.

"Hopefully we can get him settled again on Saturday in a 1400-metre race although we have drawn off the track, yet again."

Secret Harmony has drawn barrier 10 in a field of 16 and Schweida is planning for him to be ridden back in the field.

"I haven't given up totally on him being a Queensland Derby horse but not the way he is racing at the moment," Schweida said.

In-form jockey Tim Bell has been handed the reins as Secret Harmony's usual rider Ric McMahon will be in New Zealand at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Group One-winning jockey Larry Cassidy has elected to make his comeback to riding at Eagle Farm in the provincial class meeting on Saturday.

Cassidy has been out for more than a month after a hernia operation.

He says his four rides at Eagle Farm are the perfect way to get back to business.