All eyes will be on the Richmond Straight this Thursday with heats of the $25,000 to the winner Ladbrokes Richmond Straight Cup to be run.
A definite starter in Thursday's Cup heats will be Just A Monarch, who has scored five wins and a second from his past six races up the Richmond straight.
"In all but one of those wins Just A Monarch has come out last and still got the cash,'' trainer Garry Coles said.
"His box problems stem from when the lids failed to open in a race and he hit his head as he tried to anticipate the start.
"I did a lot of box work with him to try and mend his ways and he came out reasonably well in one of his Richmond wins but he has since reverted to his old bad habits.
"I have been working on his box manners again since his win last week but I can't guarantee it will make any difference.
"His effort to come from last and win last Thursday was terrific as he gave away a big start to Man Of Zeal, who had won his previous four Richmond 324m races in a row.
Man Of Zeal will be back at Richmond on Thursday for the Cup heats along with his kennelmate Raging Zeal.
Their trainer Glen Goodwin said: "Raging Zeal ran 17.30 when he defeated Bernardo Beast at Richmond on Boxing Day and Man Of Zeal, who has run 17.54 there, can come out faster than he did last week when Just A Monarch ran him down.
"Just A Monarch is a bad beginner but boy oh boy doesn't he have a motor!
"Raging Zeal loves the Richmond straight and hasn't missed a place there.''
Paul Roach, part-owner of the Garry Coles-trained Just A Monarch, was the trainer of Prince Creed when that dog took out the inaugural 2023 Richmond Straight Cup, defeating his pal Coles' dog Rebel Garth.
Darren Sultana, the state's most successful trainer of straight trackers, has been robbed of his chance to win back-to-back Richmond Cups following the breakdown of his current super speedster Bernardo Beast.
When Sultana won the 2023 Richmond Cup with Shall Not, that dog recorded an amazing 23rd win from 25 starts up the Londonderry straight, and Bernardo Beast was early favourite this year's $25,000 to the winner final on January 30.
But a disappointed Sultana said: "Bernardo Beast broke down in a trial on my track at home.''
Bernardo Beast
Sultana, whose string of wins with dazzling straight trackers like Richmond record-breaker Mr America, Shall Not and more recently Bernardo Beast, who has had seven wins and a second in eight Richmond appearances, is now unlikely to have a starter in Thursday's 324m Cup heats.
"I train a handy dog called Swinton who has had three wins and two seconds in six starts at Richmond, but I don't think he is up to this race yet,'' Sultana said.
"His win at Richmond last Thursday was impressive but I think he needs to go a bit quicker than the 17.68 he clocked in that race to be competitive in the Cup.''
