Jason Coyle is hoping a crucial gear change on one, and the booking of Sydney's most in-form jockey on another, will see him saddle-up a perfect double at the first Canterbury night race of the season.
Coyle, a fanatical Bulldog supporter, heads to Canterbury with the frequently unlucky Bluff ‘N' Bluster and his fit and formidable stablemate Brynner.
Bluff ‘N' Bluster is two runs short of his 50th raceday appearance and while he has so far only managed to convert five of his 18 placings into wins, Nash Rawiller – and barrier 3 – will go a long way to raising the tally.
‘'I think Nash is the right sort of rider that would suit this horse,'' Coyle said.
‘'He'll be able to find a spot where he is travelling with a lap of horse and generally Nash gets the best out of horses so if (Bluff ‘N' Bluster) has got another in one him, hopefully Nash is the bloke that can find it.''
That's not to say Coyle isn't as confident in the horse as he is in the rider. It's all about luck, specifically the lack of it.
‘'He is a victim of his racing pattern,'' the trainer says.
‘'He is that sort of horse that probably produces his best when ridden conservatively and does need a few things to go his way.
‘'I don't feel that he sustains the longest of runs in his races so I guess occasionally riders will look for the shorter way home and it doesn't alway work out in your favour.''
Bluff ‘N' Bluster gave a solid account of himself in the 1400m Goulburn Cup on November 5, giving the impression that 1550m is perfect despite an apparently poor record at the longer trip.
‘'His statistics say that seven furlongs (1400m) is probably his sweet spot but if you are going to try that little bit further, the 1550m at Canterbury is where you want to go,'' Coyle said.
‘'Three or four runs back at Rosehill over 1500m, he never came off the bridle behind Unspoken so that form stacks up pretty good.''
As for Brynner, Coyle has been able to reacquaint the son of 2015 Chipping Norton and Ranvet Stakes winner Contributer with three times Everest and Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
McEvoy has ridden Brynner twice resulting in back to back thirds at Warwick Farm.
‘'Once again, Brynner is probably a victim of his racing pattern a little,'' Coyle said.
‘'The way it panned out the other day at Newcastle. He always seems to get left a little flat footed and that just cost him the race.
‘'Jess (Taylor) came back and said if she had been able to hold the winner's back, she would have gone past him in the straight.
‘'It was just turning for home and balancing up what cost him the race hence the reason I have elected to stay at this trip and put a set of blinkers on first time in his career.
‘'That could just get him through that flat spot and have him ready to go when they press the button.
‘'Obviously Brynner is a big track horse but it is what it is and I think the race looks really good on paper for him.
‘'And hopefully with Kerrin back on board and with a gear change, that's the key to get him back in the winner's stall.''
By Shayne O'Cass