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Talented sprinter Axe has been kept at home to run in restricted grade at Doomben on Saturday after trainer Michael Costa abandoned several attempts for a trip away.

Axe is set to start in the Class 6 Handicap over 1200 metres, ending a frustrating time for Michael Costa who had hoped to start the four-year-old in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.

As well as the Ramornie, Costa nominated Axe for the Newmarket Handicap over 1300 metres at Rockhampton on Friday and a Benchmark race at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday.

Costa's decision not to run Axe in the Ramornie was forced after the gelding drew a horror gate 20.

"He drew wide in the Ramornie so there was no point running there," Costa said.

"He's probably got one more run left in him this preparation and I've been mulling over whether to start once more or send him to the paddock to prepare for the Magic Millions Cup.

"I've been sitting on the fence about running him at Doomben and I only decided after he galloped him on Tuesday.

"Jag (Guthmann-Chester) rode him in the gallop and he came back with a lot of confidence about him being able to start one more time."

Axe has been in superb form since joining Costa's Gold Coast stable at the start of the year.

The son of Written Tycoon was previously trained at Warwick Farm in Sydney by Bjorn Baker, winning two races at Wyong before being transferred.

Under Costa, Axe has found a new lease of life winning four of his eight starts, coming off a last start second to the Tony Gollan -trained Snitch in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last month.

At his previous start, Axe stormed home to finish third to Emerald Kingdom and subsequent Stradbroke Handicap winner Tofane in the Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben in May.

"You can't fault his form and he's been going super," Costa said.

"Unfortunately, he's had a lot of bad draws lately and he had to do too much work early on in the Eye Liner.

"It was a month between runs and he had to spear across from his wide gate and over raced early on.

"He only got beaten in the last few strides."

Costa has a team of 44 horses in work and has been in sensational form training 17 winners - including Randwick winner Seentoomany - from his past 50 starters.