A favourable barrier for Into The Red has boosted the confidence of trainer Kelso Wood ahead of Saturday's Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich.

Wood had entered Into The Red for both the Eye Liner (1350m) and the three-year-old Cooney Handicap over the same distance but elected to take on open company.

Into the Red, who has barrier two for the Eye Liner, was an emergency for last Saturday's Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Wood believes he would have run well had he got a start.

The colt has won only two races but has been unlucky in several feature wins.

Wood has never hidden the fact he believes Into The Red is potentially one of the best horses he has trained.

"Don't worry about his run in the Queensland Guineas he virtually had no where to go for the whole straight," Wood said.

He was referring to Into The Red's 17th behind Sir Moments in the Group Two Guineas when he drew off the track and his jockey Chris Munce took the colt to the back of the field.

Into the Red is raced by some of Wood's biggest clients including David Devine, Neville Morgan and Leigh Matthews.

They were also part owners of Wood's Group One winning galloper Sizzling who is now at stud.

Into the Red had been weighted with 59kgs in the three-year-old and got in on the minimum (54kg) in the Eye Liner.

"He seems to get weighted on potential not results. But getting a good alley is a bit unusual for him," he said.

Jason Taylor takes the ride on Into The Red from Munce who will steer Masthead for trainer Chris Waller in the Eye Liner.

Meanwhile, trainer Pat Duff believes his gelding Steel Zip is on course for an overdue win in the Eye Liner.

"We keep him up to the mark with beach work. He has been up for a while now but he is so consistent. It really would please me if he can win," Duff said.

Steel Zip was the last horse raced by Duff's late wife Dina and is one of the veteran trainer's favourite horses.