Star Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues will run in Saturday's Group Two Expressway Stakes at Rosehill with trainer Barry Baldwin altering his original plans because of what he believes are weaker than expected nominations for the race.Baldwin had reservations about the four-year-old running at weight-for-age level in the 1200-metre race and was looking at the Group Three Clissold Stakes run under handicap conditions at Randwick a week later."We thought the field was going to be tougher than it'

Star Queensland sprinter Burdekin Blues will run in Saturday's Group Two Expressway Stakes at Rosehill with trainer Barry Baldwin altering his original plans because of what he believes are weaker than expected nominations for the race.

Baldwin had reservations about the four-year-old running at weight-for-age level in the 1200-metre race and was looking at the Group Three Clissold Stakes run under handicap conditions at Randwick a week later.

"We thought the field was going to be tougher than it's turned out to be so unless there are any dramas with him settling in this week he will run on Saturday," Baldwin said.

There are 10 nominations for the race including Burdekin Blues' stablemate Simplest but the Eagle Farm trainer said the entire would run in the Clissold Stakes.

"There was no point bringing them both down and then have them clashing," Baldwin said.

If he measures up in his weight-for-age debut Burdekin Blues will be aimed towards the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington next month.

"If he can't go well in this race then we'd be wasting our time in Melbourne and would probably take him home but I'm confident he'll go well," Baldwin said.

Burdekin Blues has been hammering his rivals in Queensland and is gunning for four wins in a row.

He defeated Azzaland by six lengths at Eagle Farm last start on January 24 when first-up after beating Sashenka by 4-1/2 lengths in August last year.

That win followed a nine-length romp over 1000 metres at his home track in July.

Larry Cassidy rode Burdekin Blues last start but Shane Scriven takes over for the Expressway.

"Shane will be able to get the lighter weight but Larry has the ride for the Newmarket," Baldwin said.

"The horse has been very impressive so far and couldn't have done more than he has, he deserves this opportunity."

Simplest ran fourth to Keen Commander in the Magic Millions Sprint two starts back and will go into the Clissold after running a long head second to Azzaland over 1010 metres at Doomben last Saturday.

"He had a pretty hard run but he's come through well and I'd expect him to run a good race in the Clissold," Baldwin said.