Trainer Kris Lees will use a midweek race at Ipswich on Wednesday to confirm a Queensland Derby start for promising three-year-old Banner Season.

Banner Season made quite an impression when he romped to a six lengths win over 1850m at Newcastle on May 19, beating older rivals for his second win in nine starts.

He looks a stayer of promise but is still only 68th on the order of entry for the $500,000 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday week, hence the need for him to race and win at Ipswich on Wednesday.

The son of Medaglia D’Oro can leapfrog up the order if he wins Wednesday’s QTIS 3YO handicap over the Derby distance. He has the topweight of 58kg with Lees booking Brisbane’s premier jockey Jeff Lloyd for the mount.

Lees has made some adjustments to his Queensland plans, ruling out a Brisbane Cup start for Nurse Kitchen after she never looked comfortable on the Doomben track last Saturday when sixth to Duca Valentinois in the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1630m).

“She won’t run in the Brisbane Cup at Doomben on Saturday week but might send her back for the Caloundra Cup on June 30 where she will be better suited by the bigger circuit,” Lees said.

Lees has a small team entered for the Sunshine Coast meeting on Saturday with plans dependent on track conditions.

If the track remains in the heavy to soft range, Lees may start Karavali in the $200,000 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m).

Lees is also likely to start former New Zealand mare Aide Memoire at the meeting. The noted wet track performer is entered for the G2 Moreton Cup (1200m) and Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) against her own sex.

Just Dreaming, freshened since finishing sixth to stablemate Serene Miss in the $500,000 Provincial Championships Final at Randwick on April 14, may also run in the Coughlan Stakes.