Short course sensation Doonside Andy has drawn ideally in his quest to notch his eighth win in a dozen Richmond 330m races on Wednesday.
Doonside Andy, who has box one in the 330m Ladbrokes Odds Boost Multi Stakes, has won four of his five starts while wearing the red rug.
At his most recent outing Doonside Andy gave his supporters a scare when he was sent out a $1.25 favourite and was only fifth to leave the boxes.
But the Michael Galea trained dog showed dazzling speed, driving along the rails and lead at the first turn before coming away to score by five lengths in a fast 18.54.
Doonside Andy's personal best Richmond 330m time of 18.38 - just .15sec outside Straight Shift's track record figures - was also posted from box one.
Trainer Michael Galea said: "He nailed the start when he won in 18.38 and that night his first split was a flying 4.39.
"At his last start on September 14 when he bombed the jump he only ran 4.54 to the first mark but he is very fit and so long as he doesn't dwell at box rise like he has in his past two races he should go close to winning.
"He only has to jump with them because from the rails alley he shows terrific burn.
"Snipes, who has box five, ran a 4.39 first split when he won from box one in 18.52 at Richmond last Wednesday so could be a danger.''
Renegade Paul began brilliantly from box three when he led throughout over 330m at Richmond last Friday and trainer Brian Tame is unconcerned about the dog drawing box six in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Punter Assist Stakes over the same course.
"Before he started racing at Richmond in late August I gave him several trials there and always put him in box seven or eight,'' Tame said.
"He handled the wide draws comfortably in those trials so I can't see box six worrying him in this race.
"I have such a high opinion of Renegade Paul that this will be his last 330m race, I plan to build him up to 520m racing but at the same time I want to avoid putting him in races where they start on a bend.''
Star Is Born looked unlucky when third to Bodacious Star over 330m at Richmond last Friday and can turn the tables on that dog in Wednesday's 400m Ladbrokes Bet Ticket Free-For-All.
Last Friday Star Is Born began smartly from box four but collided with the speedy Benji Buttons at the first turn, allowing Bodacious Star to sweep to the lead.
Bodacious Star won in a slick 18.73 and while he has recorded 22.46 over the Richmond 400m journey, Star Is Born's personal best over the longer trip is a fast 22.33.
"She has box three and that will suit Star Is Born, especially as box one is vacant,'' trainer Kerry Drynan said.
"If she can be left alone in the early stages she will be hard to beat.''
Local trainer Tess Simmons, who qualified with four of the eight runners in Wednesday's 330m Ladbrokes Cash In Maiden Final, plumps for Zipping Esme as her most likely winner.
"At this stage I rate Zipping Esme the quickest of my four finalists,'' Simmons said.
"She began well and wanted to get to the fence when she won her heat from box eight so looks drawn okay in three.
"But Ricky Brewer's finalist Tongue Tied had no luck when second to Zipping Gwyneth in her heat and has since won in 18.77 at Richmond so she could be hard to beat.''
