Trainer Geoff Lane has not had the best of starts to the season with only one winner on the board as we near the end of the second month.
But things could have been so different as no fewer than seven of his charges have finished second.
And there were tell-tale signs yesterday that lady luck may be about to pay the Australian mentor's stables a visit as several of his team impressed in the barrier trial session on the all-weather track.
Veteran galloper American Star started the ball rolling with a strong finishing effort to take the opening heat from stablemate Patrician.
Lane was able to get a win out of the eight-year-old on the dirt in the middle of last term.
And despite his age, American Star looks more than capable of winning again this year.