Emerging trainer Brenden Mackay believes Craiglea Cruz has earned the right to take on a field of classy sprinters at Doomben.

Craiglea Cruz is one of several in-form horses including Rocky King, Plateau Gold, Straturbo and Smart Cash in Saturday's Coke Open Hcp (1050m).

Mackay, who is based on the Gold Coast, has been training for about a year and has gradually built up his team to 12.

"My partner Megan Bale and I have deliberately not gone about making a big fanfare. We have tried to let our results do the talking and we are lucky enough to be having a bit of a trot," Mackay said.

Mackay, with the assistance of Bale, has had a steady stream of winners including Craiglea Cruz who has won three of his six starts since joining the stable.

The gelding is part-owned by Craiglea Stud boss Stan Johnston and the Cowell family who sent Craiglea Cruz to Mackay to see if he could work out the gelding's problems.

"We seem to be able to get the best out of him by nursing him along and spacing his runs," Mackay said.

Craiglea Cruz won his first open company race at the Sunshine Coast on Australia Day in easy fashion. But it was his two previous beaten runs which convinced Mackay he wold not be out of place in Saturday's race.

"Three runs back he finished fifth in the Bat Out Of Hell to Plateau Gold when he was extremely deep all of the way. It was a fantastic run and if he shouldn't have won he should have finished a lot closer.

"I know he ran fifth but Megan and I felt he had won - we were that excited."

At his next start, Craiglea Cruz finished second to Smart Cash at the Sunshine Coast.

"We had intended to lead but Smart Cash began a bit better than us and was able to dictate on the corner when he got a winning break on us," Mackay said.

"Again we should have finished closer and it will be interesting see how we go against Smart Cash on Saturday."