Larry's Never Late pleased trainer Rod Douglas and jockey Nash Rawiller with his placing on a heavy track in Saturday's Rough Habit Plate and will press on to the Queensland Derby.The three-year-old is one of three horses Douglas has in Queensland on his first foray to the northern winter carnival.He made a hit and run visit to Doomben to see Larry's Never Late run third behind Rockdale and Rezyana in the Rough Habit (2020m) and stablemate Bocuse finish fourth to News Alert in the Chief De Beers

Larry's Never Late pleased trainer Rod Douglas and jockey Nash Rawiller with his placing on a heavy track in Saturday's Rough Habit Plate and will press on to the Queensland Derby.

The three-year-old is one of three horses Douglas has in Queensland on his first foray to the northern winter carnival.

He made a hit and run visit to Doomben to see Larry's Never Late run third behind Rockdale and Rezyana in the Rough Habit (2020m) and stablemate Bocuse finish fourth to News Alert in the Chief De Beers Quality (1110m).

"He's going to be a genuine chance in the Derby. He was beaten only a length and a quarter on Saturday and Nash (Rawiller) was happy with him and will ride him in the Derby," Douglas said.

"There's further improvement in him."

The Pentire gelding, who beat older horses in the Hamilton Cup (2200m) last month, ran fourth to Victoria Derby hero Rebel Raider in the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 2.

Larry's Never Late went back to last from a wide gate in the SA Derby and Douglas said he was giving the leader Rebel Raider a 20 to 25 length start before running on well to finish fourth, beaten nearly six lengths.

Douglas was also happy with the performance on Warrnambool Wangoom Handicap runner-up Bocuse in the Chief De Beers and he will have his next outing in the Eyeliner Stakes at Ipswich in three weeks.

Three-year-old filly Royal Excess, a Sandown 2100m winner three starts back, will trial at Doomben on Tuesday morning and if Douglas is pleased with her he'll pay up for her in Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel hasn't figured in two starts at the Gold Coast since travelling north, the latest a nine length last of five runners behind Nothin' Leica Cat over 2200 metres last Saturday week.

The Queensland Derby (2400m) is at Eagle Farm on June 6.

Douglas was back home in Victoria on Sunday where he led in a winning double with Second Go and Bequests at Mornington.