Old warrior Mitanni may be in the twilight of his career but trainer John Wallace doubts his age will prove a negative in his comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday.Mitanni, who was once hailed as Queensland's best sprinter, will have his first start as a nine-year-old in the $100,000 Keith Noud Handicap.The 1200-metre feature was named in honour of the late Keith Noud, one of Queensland's most respected journalists and race callers.Wallace gave Mitanni an 1100-metre barrier trial at Eagle Farm rec

Old warrior Mitanni may be in the twilight of his career but trainer John Wallace doubts his age will prove a negative in his comeback at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Mitanni, who was once hailed as Queensland's best sprinter, will have his first start as a nine-year-old in the $100,000 Keith Noud Handicap.

The 1200-metre feature was named in honour of the late Keith Noud, one of Queensland's most respected journalists and race callers.

Wallace gave Mitanni an 1100-metre barrier trial at Eagle Farm recently to prepare for his first-up assignment and is unconcerned by a heavy nine rating following a further storm on Thursday night.

"He looks a million dollars and isn't showing any wear and tear like his trainer," Wallace said.

"He's won on a heavy track and I don't think being nine will worry him."

Wallace noted a number of Mitanni's main opposition were also close to reaching the end of their careers except for his biggest danger, Coffs Harbour sprinter Nuclear Medicine.

Mitanni, a Danny Craven mount, hasn't raced since a mysterious form slump during the Brisbane winter carnival.

Wallace blamed equine influenza (EI) inoculations for Mitanni's disappointing winter campaign when he was placed only once in four starts, in the Lord Mayor's Cup (1615m) at Doomben in May won by the Barry Baldwin-trained Rum Dum.

Any slim hope Wallace had of starting Mitanni in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm the following month vanished after the gelding ran a dismal last to Chinchilla Rose in the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) at the same track on May 31.

"I couldn't get his blood right after he had the third EI shot," Wallace said.

Mitanni, who hasn't raced since the QTC Cup, will be directed towards the first two legs of the Doomben summer series next month before the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.

The three-race Doomben summer series begins with the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) on December 6.

Mitanni finished a close fourth in this year's Magic Millions Cup (1400m) won by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Theseo in March.

Eagle Farm course manager Bill Shuck believes Saturday's meeting is in no doubt despite 183 millimetres of rain this week.

"Fortunately we've been getting good drying days all week which has allowed us to get out and work on the track," Shuck said.

"We got 32 millimetres of rain in the third storm for the week last night and we're hoping the forecast is right and we'll get a bye tonight."

Shuck said the past four days were the wettest at Eagle Farm since January 2004.