Stuart Kendrick is hoping recent acquisition Time For War can repel the interstate invaders when the horse bids to continue the recent success of three-year-olds in the Group One BTC Cup at Doomben.

Time For War is one of just three Queensland-trained horses in Saturday's field of 16 along with Tony Gollan's Temple Of Boom and Cape Kidnappers for Kelly Schweida.

More importantly, he is one of four three-year-olds contesting Saturday's sprint.

Since the BTC Cup was upgraded to a Group One weight-for-age race in 2006 it has been won by three members of that age group - Duporth (2009), Sea Siren (2011) and Your Song two years ago.

Time For War was having his first start for Kendrick when second to Nostradamus in the Gold Coast Guineas on April 25 and the Caloundra trainer said the colt had taken significant improvement from that effort.

"He was a bit big for the Guineas run and has improved sharply," Kendrick said.

"A few of the speedy three-year-olds attacked him in the lead in that race and he was a sitting shot for Nostradamus who also had race fitness on his side."

Kendrick said the tempo of Saturday's race would again be critical to the chances of Time For War.

"He led when he won the BRC Sires' (Produce) at Doomben as a two-year-old. I would imagine on Saturday he will either lead or be close up on the pace," Kendrick said.

"Drawing barrier 13 is no help but there is some pace just inside us.

"It will be interesting to see how the favourite Our Boy Malachi races. They haven't been pressing on too hard with him in Sydney in a couple of his runs."

Time For War was competitive in top company as a juvenile and beat Brazen Beau and Looks Like The Cat into the minor placings in the Sires' Produce.

Kendrick is hoping the colt can go on with the job this campaign and has the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap as his main aims.

Time For War has won three of his 10 starts and more than $435,000 prize money which Kendrick hopes will ensure him a start in Brisbane's two richest Group One sprints.