Sydney’s trainer of the moment Jason Magri will have four starters in Friday night's heats of the group 2 Richmond Derby and Oaks, with Paws Of Thunder winner King Cratos spearheading his powerful line-up.
"I will be entering King Cratos (pictured), Zipping Zeek and Roused in the Derby and will put Zipping Miranda in the Oaks,'' Magri said.
"King Cratos ran a good second to Whiskey Riot in the group 1 Temlee at The Meadows on February 15 but I decided not to take him back for the Australian Cup because he still hasn't worked out the start down there.
"He loves Richmond where he usually begins smartly so I decided that was a better option.
"I trialled him at Richmond on Thursday and he went well after jumped cleanly.''
Zipping Zeek is an up-and-coming star who is racing out of his grade in the Derby but the dog is undefeated in two Richmond races, clocking near record times of 30.38 and 30.46 over the 535m journey.
Roused, while not regarded as having quite the talent of King Cratos and Zipping Zeek, has abundant early pace and is also partial to the Richmond circuit, where he has clocked a slippery 30.44.
Magri has dominated recent Richmond, Bulli and Wentworth Park race meetings and knows what it takes to win a big race on the Londonderry circuit, having landed the 2019 Richmond Derby with Catch Me Curly.
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Defy, who made the pace in the group 3 Golden Sands Classic over 600m at Albion Park on February 15, could also be a Richmond Derby starter.
Trainer Robyn Goodwin said: "At this stage I am still tossing up whether to tackle the Derby or take Defy back to Wentworth Park next Saturday for a low grade race.
"He usually comes from behind in his races but he ran it upside down at Albion Park, making all the running and burning himself out before finishing a length second to Velocity Bettina.
"Although the Richmond Derby would be a step up in class for Defy he likes the wide open spaces of that track and won there in 30.47 in October.''
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La Grand Quality maintained his flawless record at Maitland with a near record 22.04 performance on Thursday and will now target that track's biggest race, the group Maitland Cup series, over 450m on March 12 and 19.
When he won over 400m on Thursday La Grand Quality was having his first start since winning the group 2 Warragul Cup on January 11.
Prior to that he had been fastest qualifier for the group 2 Ballarat Cup final on December 14, where he finished fourth from an awkward box four draw.
"I was toying with the idea of taking La Grand Quality back to Victoria for the group 2 Horsham Cup but the final of that race is only five days before the Maitland Cup heats so I decided to stay in NSW this time,'' trainer Darryl Thomas said.
"After La Grand Quality won the Warragul Cup I gave him a break from racing as we had done a lot of travelling back and forth to Victoria for that series and for the Ballarat Cup heat and final.''
La Grand Quality is undefeated in five outings at Maitland and must rank as among the early favourites for the $40,000 to the winner Cup final, over 450m, on March 19.
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RUN By Night, the highly talented but somewhat enigmatic sprinter from Chris Carl's Richmond kennels, has been transferred to Melbourne trainer Jeff Britton.
Run By Night, who has recorded five wins and four placings from just 14 appearances, won in a slick 29.95 at Wentworth Park before trialling a near record 29.20 over 515m at Gosford early this month.
"When I took him back to Gosford for a race Run By Night was unplaced and was beaten 15 lengths with the winner running 29.77,'' a frustrated Carl said.
"I think the dog has switched off a little and don't want to keep hacking him around Wentworth Park, so I think a stint with Jeff Britton in Melbourne will do him the world of good.''
