Robbie Holmes has loved Arma Legend's progress this season - he just wishes he had not offended the barrier draw gods in recent weeks.
The Leithfield Beach trainer-driver has five runners engaged at Forbury Park tonight, including Arma Legend, who has worked through the grades impressively since Christmas.
But Holmes finds himself drawn no closer than barrier 7 with his three runners in mobile events, a trend he hopes changes in the coming weeks.
''I'd hate to work out what we've drawn [recently]. I reckon we would have a couple of [barrier] 2, a 3 and a 4 in our last 70 starts,'' Holmes said.
And it is a wide draw of barrier 8 which will prompt Holmes not to chase the lead behind Arma Legend in the $6500 2-win 2200m.
''It's probably a wee bit wide for him - he's probably best cuddled up and having a crack at them late,'' he said.
The son of Mach Three broke maidens at Addington in December before wins at Cromwell in January and Addington in March.
The only danger now is Holmes could lose him.
''Since Christmas time, he's stepped up up a little bit, and he's continued to improve,'' he said.
''We've dropped him in it a couple of times, like Addington on a premier night, but he wasn't too far away off them.
''He's just currently under offer [to be sold]. We'll know a little bit more about [that] in the next 24 to 48 hours.''
Smooth Lynda, who steps out in race 10, had her solitary start at Rangiora on April 7. Her run for 13th of 15 starters does not look too attractive on paper, but a nasty check at the start of the race ruled out all hope of a placing.
''That took her right out of the equation, really,'' he said.
''She still felt pretty good, to be honest, but the damage was done early.
''She's just starting off. It's more the trip away and what have you for a bit of experience. But she's trialled up nice enough, so she's an each way chance, to be honest.''
Foreverman (race 1) is another Holmes runner having his second start, and he was adequate enough running seventh at Rangiora for Holmes to bring him south.
''He went nice enough. He's a little inexperienced, but he's good from the stand, so I think he'd be reasonably handy tomorrow,'' Holmes said.
''He trailed early from 15 the other night, then we got a little bit held up.''
Gracious Belle (race 6) is drawn in barrier 7 but Holmes intends to push out to attack the lead against her 1-win rivals while Lurah (race 12) is out wide in barrier 9 but Holmes rates her chances against a small field of nine starters.
''She shouldn't be too far away in that field, to be honest. The idea of heading down there is [for] something a little bit easier, but it's not always that way.''
