The Tax Accountant delivers right return

Rockhampton galloper The Tax Accountant has taken out the first Country Highway Plate at Doomben.

Rockhampton galloper The Tax Accountant achieved a series of firsts with his exciting win in the Country Highway Plate at Doomben.

The Tax Accountant ($2.70) charged home off a fast early pace to catch the leader Bobby Axelrod ($12) at the 150m mark and go on to record a 2-1/4 length win.

It was the first metropolitan Saturday win for trainer Tom Button, apprentice Nick Keal and The Tax Accountant.

The race was also the first in the Queensland Highway series which is based on the successful format of the same name in NSW.

Button is a former top Brisbane apprentice who was beaten by increasing weight and took up training about five years ago.

He is now the leading trainer in central Queensland and had 45 winners last season.

The Tax Accountant has been his best performer and has been placed several times in Brisbane.

“He is a pretty good horse and I will leave him down here to chase more city wins,” Button said.

Keal has been a leading apprentice on the provincial circuit but only recently got his city licence.

He won his first metropolitan race on Snipstream at a midweek meeting at Ipswich on Wednesday but had not won in town in Saturday.

“It has been a good week,” Keal said.