No one was more relieved than Bryan Guy after the barrier draw was released for Saturday's Doomben meeting.
Guy trains promising sprinter Regular who has turned in outstanding performances from wide barriers in two starts this campaign.
The four-year-old was ridden by Guy's apprentice Janette Johnson first-up from a spell on July 13 when he was trapped three-wide contesting the lead before finishing a brave second to General Exhibit.
At his following start a fortnight later, Regular was again trapped deep and impressed Guy with his effort to finish second to Discreet.
"He's had no luck this time in because of wide gates and I was very pleased to see him finally draw a good barrier," Guy said.
"Although he's been racing up on the speed he doesn't have to lead. He's just jumped and put himself there.
"Because he's had a couple of hard runs this time in I wanted to wait three weeks to give him plenty of time to recover."
Regular is attractively weighted in Saturday's C P Scott Plate (1350m) after Johnson's claim and from barrier four, Guy expects the gelding to settle just behind the leaders.
While Regular stands more than 16 hands high, Guy says the gelding doesn't carry much condition.
"I thought after he came back from a spell he might've put on a bit of condition but he's not that type of horse," he said.
"He's a lightly-framed horse who doesn't take much work to bring him to his top.
"John Hawkes trained his sire Mearas and he said he was exactly the same."
Mearas was bought by Woodlands Stud for $1.1 million as a yearling and won the 2006 Ming Dynasty Quality and Spring Stakes at Newcastle during a brief five-start career.
At stud he only produced one crop which included It's On The Pocket who won four races in a row culminating in the Listed Queensland Day Plate (1350m) at Doomben in April.
Guy isn't setting any ambitious goals for Regular this campaign but he is hoping the gelding can emerge as a contender for the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in January.