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Michael Hickmott is hoping it will be a case of third time lucky in the $120,000 Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m) for talented galloper Lord Vladivostok.
The former New Zealander finished third behind Regalo Di Gaetano in the 2021 Cup before he was narrowly beaten by Agreeable in last year's edition.
"He's a wonderfully consistent little horse,'' Michael Hickmott said.
"Hopefully, as silly as it sounds as a seven-year-old, he's only had 30 starts hopefully he can have a bit of luck this campaign,'' he said.
Hickmott is buoyed by a brilliant return to racing for Lord Vladivostok when he defied his price and produced a sweeping run on the Parks track at Morphettville to win by 3.8 lengths first-up from a spell on September 9.
"In a perfect world he would have had another run under his belt, but we chose to come into the race second-up,'' Hickmott said.
"He had a nice trial at Strathalbyn and then a gallop at Murray Bridge last Wednesday, so he's been ticking over nicely heading into it.
Despite lacking a strong interstate contingent, Hickmott said this year's edition of the Cup was a race loaded with talent.
"It's a race with a huge amount of depth,'' Hickmott said.
"I would suspect it's going to be a tight finish. Pudding and Hopon Harry have drawn well and are going to be huge chances. I've got a great deal of respect for horses like Lyrical Lad ducking across, Phillip Stokes wouldn't have sent it over for no reason. En Francais is a nice horse, it's a really good race,'' he said.
Hickmott will saddle up Wine Baron for owner Wolf Blass in the last on a busy 10-race card who comes off a luckless return on the Parks.
"He's not the easiest horse to ride,'' Hickmott said.
"I think he'll be very hard to beat. He's a nice progressive horse and this run suits his program going forward,'' he said.
Lord Vladivostok was $6 into $4 when markets opened with tab.com.au and has fiemd again as a $3.90 favouirte while fellow local Chicago Storm has been the best backed horse into the race firming from $8 into $5.50 yesterday, while there has been money for the Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea-trained Adelaide Ace who gets the blinkers for the first time.
Paul Gatt has been given permission to ride Lyrical Lad at 55kg instead of the 54kg allocated, likewise leading jockey Jake Toeroek aboard the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Pudding.
